REGULATIONS 


ARLINGTON-STREET    CHURCH    LIBRARIES. 


I. 

Books  can  be  taken  out,  or  be  returned,  at  the  close  of  the  morn- 
ing-service on  each  Sunday;  and  from  the  Juvenile  Library  also  at 
the  close  of  the  Sunday  School. 

II. 
No  one  may  lake  more  than  two  volumes  at  the  same  time;   nor 
may  any  volume  from  the  Juvenile  Library  be  kept  more  than  two 
weeks,  or  from  the  Parish  Library  more  than  four  weeks,  unless 
re-entered  with  the  Librarian. 

III. 

Every  book,  either  taken  out  or  returned,  must  be  first  entered  on 
the  Librarian's  record. 

IV. 

No  books  can  be  taken  out  by  those  who  have  not  returned  or 
accounted  for  books  already  charged  against  their  names,  or  who 
have  not  replaced  such  as  they  may  have  lost. 

V. 

Any  one  defacing  or  injuring  a  book  will  be  debarred  from  the 
privilege  of  taking  out  books  till  the  volume  so  damaged  shall  be 
repaired  or  replaced. 

VI. 

Books  taken  from  the  shelves  should  be  returned  to  the  place? 
where  they  belong. 


Attention  to  the  III.  and  VI.  rules  will  prevent  much  trouble  and 
low, 


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Tlio  Boy   and   the   .Man.         Page   28. 


THE  BOY  AND  THE  MAN; 


EDWARD   CLEAYELAND, 


"  A  good  naae  is  rather  to  be  chosen  than  great  riches."— Pror.  xxii.  1. 
"  Light  is  sown  for  the  righteous,  and  gladness  for  the  upright  in 
heart"— P«-  xcviL  U. 


VtlTTEir  FOB  TBS    MASSACHUSETTS    SABBATH  SCHOOL  80CIKTT,  AJTU 
APPBOTBD  BT  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  PUBLICATION. 


BOSTON: 

MASSACHUSETTS    SABBATH    SCHOOL    S0CTET7, 
Depository,  No.  13  CornblU. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  ra  the  year  1800,  Dy 

31.  U.  SAKGENT,  Treasurer, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetta 


*.;• 


THE  BOY  AND  THE  MAN. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HIS     EARLY     HOME. 

]p  the  reader  has  taken  up  this  little 
volrmc  with  the  expectation  of  finding 
here  an  account  of  one  of  those  "per- 
fect children"  of  whom  we  hear  so  much 
paid,  and  of  whom  we  so  often  read,  he 
will  be  entirely  disappointed. 

It  is  the  intention  of  the  writer,  very 
simply,  but  truthfully,  to  sketch  some  ol 
the  incidents  in  the  life,  and  give  some 
delineation  of  the  character  of  one  who 
was  known  and  loved  by  hundreds  of 
youthful  hearts,  while   living,  and   whose 


4  THE   BOY   AN'D   THE   MAN. 

memory  is  fondly  and  sacredly  cherished. 
And  this  is  done,  not  merely  to  beguile 
an  hour  of  time,  but  with  the  wish  and 
earnest  prayer  that  the  perusal  of  these 
pages  may  incite  the  youthful  reader  to 
elevate  the  standard  of  daily  action,  and 
stimulate  the  mind  and  soul  to  more 
noble   and   lofty  aspirations. 

As  mutual  friends  let  us  familiarly 
*race  together  these  "  footprints  on  the 
sands  of  time,"  and  may  the  labor  prove 
a  pleasant  one,  and  in  the  most  exalted 
sense  profitable. 

We  will  first  go  to  the  early  home  of 
Edward  Clcaveland. 

It  is  situated  in  one  of  those  retired 
and  quiet  New  England  towns,  undistin- 
guished in  the  annals  of  fame,  and  with 
few  if  any  peculiarities  to  distinguish  it 
from  many  sister  towns. 

It  is  true  that  at  one  time  the  town  of 


THE    BOY    AND   THE    MAN.  5 

H.  was  pronounced  u  the  banner  town 
of  the  banner  county  of  the  banner  State 
of  the  Union,"  for  the  number  of  its  sons 
who  had  gone  forth  to  preach  the  gospel  of 
peace,  and  declare  great  tidings  of  great 
joy.  But  the  just  occasion  for  this  en- 
comium passed  away  during  the  earlier 
years  of  Edward  Cleaveland's  life.  The 
inhabitants  lived  in  a  plain  and  simple 
manner,  possessing  little  wealth,  but  with 
a  good  degree  of  intelligence,  and  there 
were  among  them  many  worthy  examples 
of  devoted  piety.  They  were  emphati- 
cally a  church-going  community,  and  for 
a  long  series  of  years  all  worshipped  in 
the  same  sanctuary.  The  soil  was  but 
moderately  productive,  and  the  scenery 
diversified  with  rocks  and  hills,  fertile 
meadows,  and  sterile,  sandy  plains,  but 
every  lover  of  nature  could  here  find  much 
1* 


THE   BOY    AND   THE   MAN. 


to  encourage  and  gratify  a  taste  for  the 
beautiful. 

But  it  is  not  with  the  inhabitants  that 
we  have  much  to  do,  only  as  all  sur- 
rounding circumstances  exert  an  influence 
in  the  formation  of  character.  Like 
most  retired  farming  townships  in  New 
England,  the  youthful  enterprise  of  II. 
seeks  a  wider  field  in  which  to  expand, 
in  some  more  productive  portion  of  our 
vast  country.  Possessing  few  advantages 
for  business,  its  population,  both  as  re- 
gards numbers  and  wealth,  has  already 
decreased,  and  probably  will  continue  to 
do  so  in  future  years.  But  let  us  not 
tarry  longer  before  visiting  the  birth- 
place and  early  home  of  our  youthful 
friend. 

It  is  a  quiet,  unpretending  farm-house, 
with  little  in  its  external  appearance  to 
attract    the    observation    of   a   stranger. 


THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN. 


But  like  many  another  humble  horuc,  it 
is  one  around  which  in  future  years  the 
treasured  memories  of  loving  hearts  will 
cling  with  tendrils  strong  and  enduring 
as  life  itself.  At  the  mention  of  our 
"early  home,"  what  a  tide  of  emotion 
will  flow  over  the  soul  from  the  deep, 
broad  ocean  of  the  past,  hiding  from  our 
view  all  the  realities  of  the  present. 

We  will  first  take  a  survey  of  the  ex- 
terior of  the  house  and  its  surroundings^ 
and  afterwards,  if  you  please,  we  will  %° 
in  and  make  the  acquaintance  of  3d.r. 
Cleaveland,  and  his  fa'Jiily,  for  he  is  a 
pleasant,  genial  man,  and  always  courteous 
and  hospitable  to  strangers. 

Just  across  the  street,  and  directly 
opposite  the  house,  is  a  green  hill-side, 
and  midway  up  the  slope  a  row  of  trem 
bliug  poplars,  with  one  beautiful  black 
walnut.     On  the  brow  of  the  hill  are  a 


THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN. 


few  peach-trees,  whose  delicious  fruit  in 
autumn  gladdens  the  mouths,  if  not  the 
hearts,  of  our  juvenile  friends  at  the  base 
of  the  hill.  If  we  stand  a  few  moments 
on  the  summit  of  this  hill,  we  can  almost 
at  a  glance  take  a  view  of  the  immediate 
premises,  and  the  more  distant  scenery. 
The  first  object  which  claims  our  atten- 
tion is  a  tall,  majestic,  and  graceful  elm, 
which  is  the  pride  of  all  the  household, 
and  elicits  the  just  admiration  of  every 
beholder.  The  erect,  strong  trunk  sup- 
ports with  easy  dignity  the  far-spreading 
branches,  towering  high  above  all  sur- 
rounding objects.  But  it  is  not  alone  for 
its  beauty  that  these  good  people  love 
this  tree,  but  more  especially  because  it 
was  planted  here,  when  a  tender  sapling, 
by  the  hand  of  a  revered  ancestor,  and 
for  his  sake  is  a  cherished  treasure.  It 
^as  the  same  hand  that  reclaimed  theso 


THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN.  9 

fertile  lands  from  the  native  wilderness. 
And  it  was  he  also  who  planted  the  butter- 
nut close  by  the  elm,  which  yearly  furnishes 
bushels  of  nuts  for  youthful  hands  to  crack. 
In  the  yard  are  the  indispensable  lilies, 
also  damask  and  the  real  old-fashioned, 
fragrant  white  rose.  Along  the  garden 
fence  are  lilac  bushes,  currants,  raspber- 
ries, and  caraway,  with  a  mingling  of  sweet 
primroses.  And  then  come  peach-trees, 
and  cherry-trees,  and  the  pleasant  gree^ 
meadow  in  the  rear  of  the  house.  And 
there  are  apple-trees,  bearing  luscious 
pound-royals,  seek-no-furthers,  round-hoops, 
and  many  others,  bearing  feiniliar  but 
awre  local  names. 

Away  to  the  east  of  us  a  few  mjles, 
rising  against  the  clear  blue  sky,  stand 
those  twin  mountains  between  whose  bases 
flow  the  deep  waters  of  the  beautiful 
Connecticut.     A  little  further  to  the  left 


10  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 


you  can  catch  a  glimpse  of  College  Hill, 
with  its  far-famed  halls  of  learning.  Here 
and  there  may  be  seen  a  spire  glittering 
in  the  sunlight,  telling  us  that  in  this 
lonely  valley  the  God  of  nature  and  of 
grace  is  acknowledged  and  worshipped  as 
the  only  living  and  true  God.  At  the 
back  of  us  are  cultivated  fields,  green 
pastures,  deep  forests,  and  wood-capped 
hills.  And  is  there  nothing  in  all  this 
varied  scene  to  inspire  the  youthful  mind 
with  an  appreciating  love  and  admiration 
for  the  beautiful  works  of  tne  great 
Creator?  TLese  rocks  and  hills  also 
teach  important  lessons  to  the  thoughtful 
nrjad.  And  here  the  hidden  germ  of  high- 
toned,  well-directed  enthusiasm  may  spring 
up  and  expand,  until,  in  after  years,  it 
shall  yield  choice  fruits,  and  scatter  far 
*nd  wide  the  golden  seeds  of  noble  effort, 


THE   BOY   AND   TIIE   MAN.  11 

pure    and    elevating    principles,   and    the 
influence   of  a  manly,  Christian  life. 

And  now  we  will  descend  the  hill,  and 
enter  the  house.  It  is  substantially  built, 
after  the  approved  style  of  the  last  cen- 
tury, although  it  has  been  remodelled  and 
enlarged  at  a  later  date.  It  is  almost 
entirely  sheltered  by  the  protecting 
branches  of  the  elm,  where  some  of  the 
feathered  songsters  hang  their  tiny  nests. 
The  house  in  front  has  two  large  square 
rooms,  and  a  small  entry  between,  with 
stairs  leading  to  the  chambers,  —  the 
kitchen,  pantry,  bedroom,  and  all  et 
ceteras  in  the  rear.  There  are  no  tokens 
of  luxury,  for  we  are  not  to  find  wealth, 
or  its  accompaniments,  here,  but  simpU- 
city,  frugality,  and  comfort.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clcavcland  are  just  in  the  prime  of  life, 
with  three  dear  children,  —  two  bright, 
active  boys,  and  a  curly-haired  little  girl. 


12  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 

Edward  was  the  oldest  of  the  three,  then 
George,  and  Susan  the  youngest. 

Mr.  Cleaveland  is  a  tall,  thin,  pale-look- 
ing gentleman,  for  his  health  was  always 
delicate,  but  he  has  a  fine,  dark,  thoughtful 
eye,  glossy  hair,  and  an  open,  pleasant 
countenance  which  at  once  attracts  you. 
His  manner  is  easy  and  cordial,  and 
there  is  about  him  a  true  native  politeness 
which  makes  every  one  feel  at  home  in  his 
presence.  He  is  intelligent  and  agreeable, 
and  in  conversational  powers  excels  most 
men  in  his  circumstances.  His  mind  is  of 
a  superior  order,  and  if  ho  could  have 
enjoyed  firm  health  and  greater  educa- 
tional advantages  in  early  life  he  would 
have  been  a  man  of  mark  in  almost  any 
profession  he  might  have  chosen  to  pursue. 
As  it  is,  he  is  known,  beloved,  and  respect- 
ed by  a  large  circle  of  friends  at  home  and 
abroad.   Mrs.  Cleaveland  is  a  tall,  pleasant- 


THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN.  13 

looking  lady,  and  it  has  been  slyly  whis- 
pered in  our  ear  that  in  her  girlhood  she 
■was  rather  beautiful ,  but  whether  this  be 
true  or  false  we  care  but  little ;  for  well 
has  the  wise  man  declared  that  "  Favor  is 
deceitful,  and  beauty  is  vain,  but  a  woman 
that  fcareth  the  Lord,  she  shall  be  praised." 
Mrs.  0.  is  a  woman  of  sterling  worth, 
mentally,  morally,  and  socially.  T-uly, 
and  in  a  broad  sense  of  the  passage,  "  she 
looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  her  house- 
hold, and  eateth  not  the  bread  of  idle- 
ness." "And  her  children  will  rise  up 
and  call  her  blessed." 

As  we  follow  Edward  in  his  upward 
path,  we  shall  often  find  occasion  to  notice 
the  influence  of  early  training,  and  the 
power  of  parental  precept  and  example; 
and,  for  this  reason,  we  give  greater 
prominence  to  these  home  influences.  In 
what  has  been  said  of  this  husband  and 


14  TIIE   BOY    AND   THE  MAN. 

wife,  this  father  and  mother,  the  most 
important  feature  of  their  character  has 
been  scarcely  mentioned.  Their  piety  — 
their  whole-souled,  warm-hearted,  active, 
Bible  piety  —  was  the  corner-stone,  the 
supporting  pillar,  and  the  crowning  beauty 
of  all  this  structure.  In  early  life  they 
found  the  blessed  Saviour  very  precious 
to  their  souls,  and  publicly  consecrated 
themselves  to  him  and  his  service  forever. 
Each  is  one  of  a  large  family,  the  child 
of  praying  parents,  who  long  ago  made  a 
holy  covenant  with  their  God,  like  Joshua 
of  old,  promising  that,  "As  for  us  and  our 
house,  wo  will  serve  the  Lord."  Unitedly, 
these  families  number  sixteen  children  who 
reached  mature  years,  and  all  but  one  have 
had  their  names  enrolled  with  the  church 
on  earth,  some  of  whom,  we  hope,  are 
;ow  with  the  church  in  heaven. 

^hat  richer  legacy   can   a   parent   be. 


THE   BOY   AND    THE   MAN.  15 

qucath  to  a  child  than  the  golden  treasure 
of  pious  teaching,  coupled  with  a  beauti- 
fully consistent  Christian  life  ?  None, 
surely ;  for  its  price  is  far  above  rubies, 
and  more  precious  than  the  most  costly 
stones;  "Rather  to  be  desired  than  gold; 
yea,  than  much  fine  gold."  Youthful 
parents,  seek  not  to  lay  up  for  yourselves 
or  your  children  the  treasures  of  this 
world,  but  for  yourselves  and  the  precious 
immortals  given  you  by  God,  "  Seek  first 
the  kingdom  of  God,  and  his  righteousness, 
and  all  these  things  shall  be  added." 

These  blessed  words  were  the  rule  oi 
action  for  Mr.  an£  Mrs.  Clcaveland,  when 
they  assumed  the  responsibilities  of  the 
united  head  of  a  household.  Morning  and 
evening  the  voice  of  grateful,  fervent 
prayer  arises  from  this  family  altar.  These 
children  have  been  early  consecrated  to 
God  by  public  baptism  in  his  house,  and 


£6  THE   BOY  AND   THE   MAN. 

in  the  inner  chambers  of  these  parents 
hearts,  where  none  but  the  eye  of  Omnis- 
cience looked  upon  the  offering ;  but,  well 
pleased,  he  saw  and  accepted  the  sacrifice, 
even  as  he  has  promised.  And  early  they 
are  taught  to  lisp  their  evening  prayers 
before  they  lay  their  infant  forms  to  rest, 
and  after  the  morning  devotions  of  the 
family,  these  three  little  ones  together 
kneel,  and  whisper  in  the  ear  that  ever 
listens  to  the  cry  of  the  young.  The  Tes- 
tament is  one  of  the  first  books  they  are 
taught  to  read,  and  their  young  minds  are 
early  stored  with  precious  Bible  truths 
which  in  after  years  may  be  of  unspeak- 
able service  to  them.  And  here,  too,  we 
may  see  family  discipline  such  as  we 
admire,  but  so  often  fail  to  behold.  It  is 
not  rigid  and  severe,  but  kiad,  mild,  ana 
affectionate,  yet  firm  and  unwavering.  An 
obedience  ready  and  cheerful  is  required 


THE   BOY   AND    THE   MAN.  17 


and  expected.  The  parents'  word  is  not 
to  be  trifled  with,,  and  no  threats  are  made 
except  such  as  are  designed  to  be  exe- 
cuted. We  would  not  imply  that  these- 
children  are  always  perfectly  well-behaved, 
models  of  excellence,  to  such  an  extent 
as  to  cause  apprehension  that  they  "will 
not  live  long,  for  they  are  too  good  for 
earth."  Not  a  bit  of  all  this,  for  they  are 
very  much  like  other  children,  subject  to 
like  faults  and  foibles,  but  they  are  taught 
to  love,  honor,  and  obey  their  parents.  The 
will  of  the  child  is  to  yield  to  the  judg- 
ment of  the  parents,  and  the  conquest  is 
always  on  the  right  side.  The  rod  is 
seldom  used,  but,  whenever  it  is  necessary, 
the  parents  remember  and  practise  the 
precept  of  the  wise  man,  so  often  repeated 
in  his  proverbs.  We  do  not  hesitate  to 
declare  that  this  wholesome  discipline,  this 
farrily  government,  will  be  a  source  of  joy 
2* 


18  THE   BOY   AND  THE   MAN, 

and  gratitude  to  these  children  so  long  as 
they  live,  and  they  will  regard  it  as  one 
of  the  greatest  blessings  a  kind  Provi- 
dence could  bestow. 

Have  we  lingered  too  long  on  these 
preliminaries,  and  arc  you  weary  of  the 
theme  ?  Pardon  me,  then,  but  it  is  some- 
times both  pleasant  and  instructive  to 
trace  the  relation  between  cause  and  effect, 
and  this  is  one  great  reason  for  dwelling 
thus  long  around  this  hearthstone.  The 
home  of  the  child,  most  generally  speak- 
ing, is  the  mould  in  which  the  character  is 
cast,  and  eternity  will  alone  reveal  the 
true  importance  of  home  influence.  There 
arc  exceptions,  we  know,  where  noble 
characters  have  arisen  from  miserable, 
wretched  families,  but  they  arc  the  excep* 
tious. 


CHAPTER    II. 

HIS   BOYHOOD. 

As  we  have  seen,  Edward  was  tLc  eldest 
of  these  children.  He  was  a  tall  and 
rather  slender  boy,  with  fair  complexion, 
dark  brown  hair,  and  eyes  which  were 
very  large  and  expressive,  of  a  dark  blue 
color,  and  when  animated,  as  he  often 
was,  they  darkened  and  expanded  until  a 
casual  observer  would  almost  pronounce 
them  black.  He  was  an  active  child,  and 
seldom  still  for  a  moment,  unless  he  had 
a  book  in  his  hand  which  interested  him, 
and  then  he  was  oblivious  to  all  surround- 
ing sights  or  sounds.  His  disposition  was 
affectionate,  but   cannot  be   described   as 


20  THE   BOY   AND  THE   MAN. 


mild  and  gentle,  but  rather  as  impulsive 
and  impetuous,  which  led  him  to  do  and 
say  many  things  which  a  moment's  re- 
flection would  have  prevented.  His  move- 
ments were  quick  as  thought,  and  he 
seemed  to  be  a  real  lover  of  mischief, 
and  thoughtless  of  consequences.  But,  as 
his  kind  mother  so  often  said,  "Edward 
does  not  mean  any  harm,"  and,  truly,  it 
was  only  the  outgushing  of  an  ardent 
active  nature,  which  must  have  exercise  in 
some  way. 

He  loved  fun  and  frolic,  and  wanted 
something  "going  on"  constautly,  and, 
though  his  feelings  were  kind  and  tender, 
he  did  not  always  stop  to  think,  and  in  an 
instant  obeyed  the  first  impulse  of  his 
mind.  In  this  way  he  grieved  his  more 
gentle  and  cautious  brother  George,  who 
often  checked  him  in  his  sport.  As  an 
example  of  this,  I  will  give  a  trifling  inci- 


THE   BOY    AND    THE    MAN.  21 


dcut  that  a  lady  who  witnessed  it  loves 
often  to  relate  as  an  illustration  of  the 
wo  brothers.  In  returning  from  school 
.me  day  they  spied  two  beautiful  little 
'ellow  birds,  perched  upon  a  bush  by  the 
•oaifcide.  Quick  as  thought  Edward  picked 
jp  a  stone  and  threw  into  the  bush,  just 
for  the  fun  of  seeing  the  timid  birds  fly 
away,  and  then  another  stone  was  thrown 
to  make  ihem  fly  again,  and  so  he  con- 
tinued to  annoy  them,  George  begging 
him  all  the  time  to  desist,  for  he  was 
afraid  he  would  hurt  the  poor  frightened 
birds.  At  last  the  tears  began  to  flow, 
and,  in  a  beseeching  tone,  George  called 
out  to  him,  "  O  Edward,  I  do  wish  you 
would  come  away  and  let  those  yellow 
birds  alone."  So  Edward  left  them,  say- 
ing, "Why,  George,  it  don't  hurt  them 
any." 

You  would  almost  luiuk,  to  see  Edward 


22  THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN. 


sometimes,  and  watch  bis  varied  move- 
ments, that  he  had  only  studied  one  pas- 
sage of  Scripture,  and  intended  to  obey 
that  literally,  viz :  "  Whatsoever  thy  hand 
findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might."  At 
school  he  was  behind  none  in  his  classes, 
and  in  the  playground  he  was  first  of  the 
band.  When  he  was  at  work,  for  he  was 
early  obliged  to  bear  his  part  in  the  work 
of  the  farm,  he  was  as  active  as  in  his 
play.  He  was,  from  earliest  boyhood, 
very  fond  of  fishing,  and  would  often  say 
to  his  brother,  when  a  certain  portion  of 
work  had  been  assigned  them,  "  Come, 
George,  let  us  hurry  and  finish  our  task, 
so  that  we  can  go  fishing;"  and  then  ho 
would  put  forth  all  his  strength  and 
energy  to  complete  the  labor,  and  enjoy 
his  favorite  sport.  When  Edward  was 
eight  years  old  his  grandparents  came  to 
live   in   the   home   beneath   the   old    elm. 


THE   BOY   AND    THE  MAN.  23 


Old  Mrs.  Cleaveland  was  in  feeble  health, 
beins:  afflicted  with  that  fatal  disease,  con- 
sumption.  Ilcr  appetite  was"  very  delicate, 
and  a  little  nicely  cooked  trout,  fresh  from 
the  brook,  would  often  be  most  grateful  to 
her  taste ;  and  Edward  would  always  de- 
light to  catch  the  shining  beauties,  and, 
although  very  fond  of  eating  them  himself, 
it  afforded  him  much  more  pleasure  to 
give  them  to  his  grandmother.  lie  was 
not  quite  ten  years  old  when  she  died,  but 
many  a  trout  had  been  caught  for  her  by 
Edward,  with  his  hook  and  line.  There 
is  one  feature  in  the  training  of  these  boys 
which  I  would  not  omit  to  mention.  It 
was  the  invariable  custom  for  them,  during 
the  two  long  vacations  of  school,  one  in 
spring  and  the  other  in  autumn,  to  spend 
two  hours  each  day  in  reading.  A  fixed 
hour  was  assigned  for  the  morning,  and 
another   for    the    afternoon.      When    the 


24  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 

appointed  time  arrived,  their  good  mother 
would  call  them  from  their  play  to  engage 
in  reading.  A  part  of  this  time  was 
always  devoted  to  perusing  the  Holy  Bible, 
so  that  before  they  were  ten  years  old, 
each  had  read  the  whole,  both  Old  and 
New  Testament,  entirely  through  by  course 
several  times.  This  was  not  regarded  by 
them  as  a  tiresome  requirement,  but  was 
a  present  pleasure,  and  of  inestimable 
benefit  to  them  in  after  life,  and  through 
them  to  others. 

After  Edward  was  ten  years  old  he 
never  attended  school  in  the  summer,  as 
his  services  were  needed  on  the  farm,  but 
previously  to  that  time,  after  he  was  three 
years  of  age,  he  was  generally  in  school 
from  eight  to  ten  months  of  the  year.  He 
read  the  New  Testament  through  in  course 
before  he  was  five,  though  he  was  never 
regarded  as  a  precocious  child,  and,  in  this 


THE    BOY    AND    THE   MAN.  25 

matter  of  reading,  did  not  surpass  the 
younger  children.  He  always  loved  the 
Sabbath  school,  and  nearly  all  his  life 
was,  in  some  capacity,  connected  with  it. 
In  his  early  boyhood  one  custom  pre- 
vailed which  has  long  since  passed  away. 
Though  it  is  regarded  by  many  as  an 
altogether  absurd  practice,  yet  we  know 
there  are  not  a  few  who  love  to  look  back 
upon  it  as  a  time-hallowed  custom  of  theii 
childhood,  and  feel  truly  grateful  that  they 
were  ever,  we  might  almost  say,  forced  to 
engage  in  it.  This  was  the  study  and  reci- 
tal of  the  Assembly's  Shorter  Catechism. 
There  are  many  children,  I  fancy,  who 
have  pondered  over  that  word  Shorter, 
totally  unable  to  satisfy  themselves  what 
it  signified.  It  would  not  be  easy  for  a 
child  to  comprehend  the  possibility  of  a 
longer  Catechism,  or  one  more  difficult  to 
commit  and  recite  verbatim,  for  it  is  not 
3 


26  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 

peculiarly  adapted  to  infant  minds.  But 
it  has  been  felt  to  be  a  real  treasure  in 
after-life,  by  many  who  sighed  over  it 
when  children.  In  the  family  of  Mr. 
Cleaveland,  as  in  many  piou3  New  Eng- 
land families,  it  was  a  regular  Sabbath 
afternoon  exercise  to  hear  the  children 
recite  a  small  portion  from  the  primer, 
which  had  been  committed  during  the  pre- 
vious week ;  and  it  was,  also,  the  closing 
exercise  of  each  week  in  the  district 
school.  This  latter  custom,  in  particular, 
could  not  be  reasonably  observed  at  the 
present  day,  for  there  is  in  every  commu- 
nity such  a  variety  of  religious  sentiment, 
that  such  doctrinal  teaching  could  not  be 
tolerated.  But,  at  that  time,  it  might 
almost  be  said  of  the  good  people  in  the 
town  of  II.,  that,  in  religious  matters,  they 
were  "of  one  heart  and  one  mind." 
There  were  but  very  few  exceptions  for 


THE    BOY    AND    THE   MAN.  27 


many  years,  though  now,  as  in  most  towns, 
there  is  a  diversity  of  opinion  upon  reli- 
gious subjects. 

There  was  a  vacation  in  the  Sabbath 
school  every  spring,  of  a  few  weeks,  before 
the  summer  organization  took  place,  and 
during  this  interval  the  children  and  youth 
were  expected  to  recite  the  Catechism  in 
church.  The  good  minister,  Mr.  G.,  was 
a  kind  friend  to  all  ihe  little  folks,  and 
knew  every  child  in  his  parish  by  name. 
He  would  give  notice  on  one  Sabbath  that 
on  the  next  he  should  question  the  chil- 
dren in  the  Catechism  as  far  as  "Effectual 
Calling;"  and  such  studying  of  primers  as 
there  would  be  then,  by  the  little  girls 
and  boys;  for  it  was  a  great  mortification 
to  make  a  mistake,  and  each  one  was 
called  upon  in  turn.  At  the  appointed 
time  the  children  would  take  their  places 
in  the  middle  aisle,  the  smaller  ones  stand 


28  THE   BOY   AND    THE   MAN. 

ing  in  front  of  the  "  Deacon's  seat,"  that 
they  might  answer  the  first  questions, 
which  were  more  simple  and  easy  to 
remember,  and  then  the  line  of  bright 
faces  would  extend,  on  either  side  of  the 
aisle,  almost  to  the  door.  The  grand- 
mothers would  often  take  a  position  in 
the  square  pews  behind  the  children,  that 
they  might  gently  prompt  the  faltering. 
Mr.  G.  would  then  commence  by  asking 
the  little  one  at  the  head  of  the  row, 
"What  is  the  chief  end  of  man?"  If 
the  answer  was  correctly  given  he  would 
encourage  the  trembling  child  by  a  word 
of  approbation,  and  pass  on.  Each  little 
heart  would  beat  more  quickly  as  their 
turn  drew  nigh,  and,  unless  they  were 
very  confident  of  a  perfect  recitation,  a 
relief  was  manifestly  felt  when  the  answer 
had  been  given.  Not  a  word  was  allowed 
to  be  either  omitted  or  misplaced,  and  the 


THE   BOY    AND  THE   MAN.  29 

articulation  must  be  clear  and  distinct,  to 
elicit  unqualified  approval  from  the  good 
pastor;  and  to  obtain  this  was  the  am- 
bitious desire  of  every  one.  Edward 
Cleaveland's  voice  would  sound  forth  loud 
and  clear ;  for  he  knew  his  lesson  per- 
fectly, and  was  not  afraid  to  speak.  He 
was  not  a  bold  boy,  neither  was  he  fool- 
ishly timid ;  and  when  he  was  called  upon 
to  speak,  he  did  not  hang  down  his  head, 
as  if  ashamed  to  look  up,  but,  with  a 
sparkling  eye  and  glowing  face,  he  would 
look  his  pastor  or  teacher  full  in  the  face, 
and  answer  so  that  all  in  the  house  could 
hear,  and  the  approving  words,  "That's 
right,  my  boy,"  were  reward  enough. 

This  exercise  was  repeated  for  three  or 

four  Sabbaths  every  spring,  and  the  whole 

Catechism  was  thus  yearly  recited,  and  its 

iuQuence    on    those    youthful    minds    and 

3* 


30  THE    BOY    AND    THE    MAN. 


hearts  did  not  pass  away  when  the  ensto-n 
ceased  to  be  observed,  but  still  lives. 

We  have  seen  Edward's  love  of  reading, 
but  we  would  not  forget  that  the  facilities 
for  gratifying  this  taste  were  much  less 
twenty-five  or  thirty  years  ago  than  at  the 
present  day,  when  u  of  making  books  there 
is  no  end."  The  ''Youth's  Companion" 
was  a  constant  visitor  at  Mr.  Cleaveland's 
from  its  first  issue  until  the  children  could 
no  longer  be  counted  as  such.  Its  weekly 
visit  was  hailed  with  delight,  and  its  con- 
tents eagerly  read  by  all  the  family.  The 
Sabbath  School  Library  did  not  then  afford 
as  great  variety  of  juvenile  books  as  now, 
but  Edward  was  intensely  interested  in 
many  volumes  which  were  not  altogether 
adapted  to  the  minds  of  most  children 
Not  that  he  was  a  precocious  boy,  but 
intelligent,  and  very  fond  of  reading. 

There  was  a  social  library  in  the  town 


THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN.  31 


of  II.,  from  which  all  the  members,  on  a 
given  day,  once  in  two  months,  could  draw 
a  limited  number  of  volumes.  Mr.  Clcavc- 
land  owned  a  share  in  this  library,  but,  as 
the  library  room  was  some  two  or  three 
miles  from  his  h^mc,  and  his  health  was 
never  firm,  he  could  seldom  be  present  at 
the  meetings  of  the  society,  which  were 
always  held  in  the  evening;  but  as  soon 
as  Edward  was  old  enough,  he  was  almost 
always  there  to  obtain  his  share  of  the 
books.  If  for  any  reason  he  could  not 
lide,  he  much  preferred  walking  the  two 
and  a  half  miles,  and  home  again,  to  the 
loss  of  his  reading;  and  then  every  leisure 
moment  was  employed  over  his  books. 
The  hour  after  dinner,  which,  in  all  ordi- 
nary cases,  was  allowed  for  rest  and 
recreation,  before  returning  to  the  labors 
of  the  field,  was  not  often  spent  in  play 
while    he    had    an    unread    book.      If  L 


THE   BOY    AND    THE  MAN. 


returned  from  work  five  minutes  before 
the  meal  .was  ready,  his  book  was  in  his 
hand,  and  not  unfrequently  would  he  bring 
it  to  the  table,  to  improve  the  moment 
after  the  blessing  was  invoked,  before  his 
turn  came  to  be  helped.  If  he  had  en- 
joyed as  much  opportunity  for  reading  as 
many  boys  of  his  age  now  do,  I  hardly 
think  he  would  have  been  quite  excusable 
for  taking  his  book  to  the  table  with  him, 
for  that  is  not  the  most  suitable  place  for 
reading.  But  we  do  not  feel  inclined  to 
censure  him  for  it.  He  loved  history 
exceedingly,  and  books  of  travels  in  foreign 
lands  were  very  attractive  to  his  mind. 
He  had  a  keen  sense  of  the  ridiculous,  and 
possessed  a  taste  for  the  marvellous,  but 
not  to  excess,  and  in  his  reading  it  was 
never  indulged  to  any  great  extent.  He 
read  very  rapidly,  though  he  grasped  the 
whole.     His  memory  was  both  ready  and 


THE    BOY   AXD    THE   MAN.  33 


retentive ;  his  perceptive  faculties  quick 
and  strong;  and  his  eyes  and  cars  were 
always  open  to  learn  something  new.  He 
would  know  the  "why  and  wherefore  "  of 
everything,  and  often  annoyed  and  puzzled 
his  elders  by  incessant  questions,  upon 
nearly  every  conceivable  subject.  Of  read- 
ing or  hearing  stories  he  would  never  tire, 
and  his  large,  prominent  blue  eyes  would 
expand  and  sparkle,  and  his  whole  counte- 
nance glow  with  earnestness,  as  he  read, 
or  listened  with  almost  breathless  atten- 
tion. 

In  the  winter  months  Edward  was  al- 
ways in  school;  for  several  years  at  the 
district  school,  and  afterwards  at  the 
academy  in  his  native  town.  He  always 
boarded  at  home  and  walked  to  school, 
although  the  academy  was  two  and  a  half 
miles  distant.  But  he  cared  not  for  the 
distance,  if  he  could  only  enjoy  the  privi- 


84  THE  BOY   AND    THE   MAN. 


lege  of  attending  school.  He  was  not  a 
mere  "  bookworm,"  although  he  had  a 
strong  desire  for  knowledge;  but  he  was 
as  ready  to  enter  earnestly  into  the  sports 
of  his  playmates,  as  to  engage  in  his 
studies  in  the  schoolroom.  His  thoughts, 
time,  and  energy  were  given,  with  a  right 
good  will,  to  the  occupation  before  him, 
whether  it  was  a  difficult  problem  in 
mathematics,  a  chapter  of  history,  a  les- 
son in  chemistry,  or  a  game  of  ball  on 
the  green.  He  delighted  in  experiments 
in  natural  philosophy  and  chemistry,  and 
no  study  or  science  was  regarded  by  him 
as  dull  or  tedious.  In  the  debating  club 
he  took  an  active  and  prominent  part,  and 
in  declamation  he  excelled  most  of  his 
fellows ;  for  he  had  a  deep,  full  voice,  and 
he  entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  words  he 
uttered. 


CHAPTER    III. 

IMPAIRED    HEALTH;     FIRST    EFFORTS     IN 
TEACHING. 

As  I  have  said,  Edward  was  earr/ 
obliged  to  assist  in  the  labor  of  the  farm, 
and  both  himself  and  his  brother  were 
accustomed  to  work  more  constantly  and 
faithfully  than  most  boys  of  their  age. 
They  were  generally  well,  but  tall  and 
slender,  and  less  robust  than  many;  still 
they  were  as  regularly  in  the  field  as 
most  men. 

Mr.  Cleaveland,  Edward's  father,  was 
never  strong,  and  for  many  years  seldom 
able  to  be  much  in  the  field.  But  the 
good  old  grandfather  lived  with  them,  and 


36  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 

■was  for  years  their  almost  constant  com- 
panion in  labor.  He  was  a  godly  man,  a 
faithful  and  active  servant  of  his  divine 
Master ;  he  lived  honored  and  respected  by 
ail  who  knew  him,  and  died  universally 
lamented,  at  the  age  of  nearly  fourscore 
years.  It  was  a  necessary  consequence  of 
his  own  early  life  and  habits,  that  he 
should  have  but  a  limited  degree  of  sym- 
pathy with  the  boyish  sports  and  wild 
fancies  of  his  grandsons.  In  reality,  he 
was  never  a  boy  himself,  but  a  man  from 
childhood,  and  his  patience  was  often 
taxed  by  the  thoughtlessness  of  his  grand- 
children, particularly  of  Edward.  For  in 
the  field  Edward's  tongue  often  kept  equal 
pace  with  his  hands,  and  sometimes  he 
would  quite  forget  himself,  or  his  work, 
and  the  hoc,  the  rake,  or  the  axe,  would 
be  idle  in  his  hand,  while  his  thoughts 
were  busy  with  some  stirring  scene  in  the 


THE   BOY    AND   THE   MAN.  37 


revolution,  or  following  Robinson.  Crusoe, 
on  his  lonely  island;  or,  perchance,  he 
was  asking  how,  or  why,  or  when,  and 
where  such  and  such  things  were  done. 
He  was  often  careless,  too,  and,  in  his 
rapid  movements,  his  clothes  were  not 
unfrequently  soiled  or  torn  needlessly,  and 
sometimes  he  would  wound  himself,  when 
a  little  caution  on  his  part  would  easily 
have  prevented  it.  Several  times  in  his 
boyhood  he  was  so  much  injured  by  using 
an  axe  or  scythe  with  too  little  care  as  to 
be  disabled  for  weeks.  Edward  was  very 
sorry  to  be  laid  aside  from  work,  for  lw» 
knew-  that  his  services  were  always  needed, 
as  his  father  did  not  possess  adequate 
pecuniary  means  to  hire  help  continually, 
although  they  had  a  hired  man  part  of  the 
year.  But  these  weeks  of  lameness  were 
not  lost  to  Edward,  for  they  afforded  him 
a  fine  opportunity  to  read,  and  were  dili- 


38  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 

gently  improved;  and  he  also  was  fur- 
nished with  an  opportunity  to  cultivate 
the  grace  of  patience,  and  this  enabled 
him  in  after  years  to  endure  constant  pain 
with  cheerfulness,  to  such  a  degree  that  a 
looker-on  would  not  suspect  that  he  suf- 
fered at  all. 

I  believe  our  kind  and  wise  heavenly 
Father  had  a  merciful  design  in  all  these 
events,  trifling  though  they  may  appear; 
but  "with  the  Omniscient'  there  are  no 
such  things  as  trifles."  All  have  a  bearing 
in  accomplishing  the  infinite  plan.  If  I 
have  spoken  of  faults  and  defects  in  the 
early  character,  it  is  because  I  wish  to 
speak  truthfully,  for  they  really  existed, 
and  also  to  exhibit  the  success  of  his 
efforts  to  overcome  them.  When  we  see 
another,  who  has  been  enabled  by  con- 
stant striving,  aided  by  promised  strength 
from  above,  to  conquer  defects  of  temper 


TUh   BOY   AND   TflE   MAN  39 


or  of  habit,  it  may  encourage  us  to  re- 
double our  own  watchfulness  and  prayer- 
fulness  in  the  attempt  to  overcome  some 
besetting  sin  in  ourselves. 

When  Edward  was  sixteen  hi3  grand- 
father was  called  home  to  his  eternal  rest, 
as  a  shock  of  corn  gathered  in  its  season, 
fully  ripe.  lie  left  to  his  children  and 
his  children's  children  the  legacy  of  pious 
counsels,  fervent  prayers,  and  a  holy  life, 
and,  although  he  "  rests  from  his  labors," 
yet  u  his  works  do  follow  him." 

And  now  a  still  larger  share  of  labor 
and  responsibility  devolved  upon  Edward 
and  George,  Mr.  Cleaveland  being  often 
only  able  to  advise  with  them,  although  at 
times  he  could  give  them  the  encourage- 
ment and  assistance  of  his  actual  presence. 

The  brothers  still  continued  to  attend 
school  during  the  winter,  at  the  same  time 
discharging  the  daily  labors  of  a  farmer 


40  THE   BOY   AND    THE  MAN. 


in    winter,   with    but    little    extra    hired 
help. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cleaveland  possessed 
rational  and  practical  views  of  the  relative 
importance  of  wealth  and  mental  and  moral 
culture.  They  regarded  frugality  and  in- 
dustry as  Christian  virtues,  and  ever  prac- 
tised them  as  such,  and  not  merely  because 
their  circumstances  seemed  to  require  it. 
They  felt  it  both  a  duty  and  privilege  to 
provide  a  competence  for  their  family,  so 
far  as  was  possible  in  consistency  with 
duties  of  a  more  strictly  moral  nature. 
Their  first  care  and  anxiety  was  for  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  their  children,  and  to 
see  them  active,  useful  members  of  the 
shurch  of  Christ.  And  next  to  this,  and 
partly  blended  with  it,  was  the  earnest 
wish  to  give  them  all  the  advantages  for 
mental  cultivation  which  could  consistently 
be  allowed. 


THE    BOY   AND    THE   MAN.  41 


To  accomplish  this  object  they  gladly 
and  contentedly  denied  themselves  com- 
forts and  conveniences  which  they  might 
otherwise  have  enjoyed.  They  wanted  to 
see  them  well-disciplined,  intelligent,  be- 
nevolent Christians,  —  with  correct,  en- 
larged views  of  their  relations  and  obliga- 
tions to  God,  and  also  of  their  duties 
and  privileges  as  social  beings. 

The  almost  incessant  labors  to  which 
Edward  had  so  long  devoted  himself,  at  a 
time  wheu  his  physical  system  was  rapidly 
developing,  proved  too  severe  a  tax  upon 
his  strength.  He  had  a  good  degree  of 
ambition,  unusual  energy  and  perseverance, 
with  an  undaunted  will.  As  he  advanced 
in  years,  his  desire  for  knowledge  waxed 
stronger  and  stronger  still,  and,  as  a 
student,  he  became  more  and  more  dili- 
gent, and  all  his  energy  was  directed,  for 
the  time,  to  the  one  object  of  acquiring 
4* 


42  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 


the  knowledge  for  which  he  thirsted.  I 
do  not  mean  by  this  that  he  did  not  care 
for,  or  engage  in  anything  else,  for  he  was 
still  the  same  active,  ambitious  youth, 
away  from  his  books. 

One  day,  nearly  the  last  term  of  his 
school  days,  he  was  spending  a  part  of  the 
intermission  in  pretty  lively  exercise,  run- 
ning a  race  with  some  of  his  fellows.  He 
determined  not  to  be  outrun,  and  did  noi 
stop  to  reflect  upon  the  possible  conse- 
quences of  over-exertion,  for  his  ambition 
was  roused.  He  continued  to  run,  with 
all  the  ardor  of  his  nature,  until  a  sudden 
pain  in  his  side  compelled  him  to  relin- 
quish the  race.  It  was  many  years  after 
this  before  that  side  was  free  from  pain  for 
a  single  moment;  and  this  one  incident, 
probably,  had  a  powerful  influence  in  de- 
ciding the  course  of  his  after  life.  It  was 
not  this  single  exertion  alone,  but  a  com- 


THE    BOY   AND    THE   MAN.  43 


bination  of  circumstances,  and  this  added 
to  them  was  the  deciding  weight  in  the 
scale.  It  was  not  very  apparent  at  first, 
but,  as  time  passed  on,  it  became  evident 
that  he  would  be  obliged  to  seek  some 
occupation  less  laborious  than  that  of  a 
farmer.  He  longed  for  a  collegiate  educa- 
tion, but  this  seemed  impracticable.  Mr. 
Cleaveland,  with  his  feeble  health,  had  not 
the  pecuniary  ability  to  justify  such  a 
course,  and  Edward  had  not  the  physica' 
strength  to  warrant  the  attempt  to  supply 
the  necessary  funds  himself.  It  was  noi 
without  a  severe  and  oft-repeated  struggle 
with  his  own  heart,  that  he  could  cheer- 
fully relinquish  this  ardent  wish,  and  he 
had  not  yet  learned  meekly  to  say,  "  Thy 
will  be  done." 

He  first  turned  his  thoughts  to  the  avo- 
cation of  a  teacher,  but  with  no  well- 
defined  plan  for  the  future,  only  to  meet 


44  THE   BOY   AND    THE   MAH. 


the  emergency  of  the  present,  and  there- 
fore sought  some  district  school  for  the 
winter. 

He  had  reached  his  twentieth  year  when 
he  first  entered  upon  the  duties  of  com- 
mon school  teacher,  in  a  retired  district, 
in  a  neighboring  town.  His  school  num- 
bered not  more  than  twenty  scholars,  but 
he  could  find  enough  to  employ  his  time 
and  energy  in  the  discipline  and  instruc- 
tion of  even  twenty  pupils,  varying  in  age 
from  four  to  seventeen  years.  Good  order, 
ready  obedience,  and  thorough  recitations, 
were  with  him  the  fundamental  rules  of 
teaching.  He  wished  to  witness  the  im- 
provement of  the  youthful  minds  commit- 
ted to  his  care,  and  he  knew  this  would  be 
secured  only  by  the  united  efforts  of  both 
teacher  and  scholar.  He  had  been  a  boy 
himself,  and  had  often  suffered  from  the 
well-intended  but  injudicious  discipline  of 


1HE    BOY    AND    THE    MAN.  45 


his  ir  j  tructors,  and  he  resolved  to  profit 
by  past  experience.  The  term  passed 
pleasantly  and  profitably  to  both  teacher 
and  scholars,  and  the  result  gave  gratifying 
evidence  that  Edward  possessed  ability 
and  adaptation  to  instruct  youthful  minds 
successfully. 

The  succeeding  summer  was  spent  at 
home,  upon  the  farm,  so  far  as  his  strength 
would  allow  him  to  labor.  In  the  autumn 
his  services  as  teacher  were  sought  and 
obtained  for  a  village  school  in  another 
adjoining  town.  This  was  a  larger,  and, 
in  many  respects,  a  much  more  difficult 
school,  than  the  one  of  the  previous  win- 
ter. There  were  some  strong-willed  boys, 
and,  possibly,  girls  too,  who  had  never 
learned  the  beauty  of  ready  submission  to 
a  parent's  command  at  home,  and,  of 
course,  would  not  cheerfully  submit  to  a 
teacher's  rules  at  school. 


46  THE  BOY   AND    THE   MAN. 


But  the  contest  was  neither  long  nor 
severe,  for  a  few  instances  of  wholesome 
discipline  established  beyond  a  question 
the  supremacy  of  the  teacher.  After  a 
little  time,  a  glance  fro.n  those  expressive 
eyes  was,  in  most  cases,  all  that  was 
required  to  secure  obedience.  But  he 
never  ruled  with  "  a  rod  of  iron,"  for  there 
are  very  few  who  so  entirely  win  the 
hearts  of  pupils  as  did  Edward  Cleave- 
land.  He  gave  them  his  sympathy,  and 
manifested  a  true  interest  in  their  highest 
welfare  and  improvement,  and  in  this  way 
secured  for  himself  their  most  perfect  con- 
fidence. 

It  was  then  the  custom  in  nearly  all 
districts  for  the  teacher  to  "board  around," 
and,  although  this  practice  is  on  the  whole 
very  undesirable,  yet  it  is  not  entirely  des- 
titute of  advantage  to  all  parties.  In  the 
homes  of  me  children  he  became  a  favorite 


THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN.  47 


with  both  parents  and  children.  And  so 
the  winter  wore  away,  giving  mutual  satis- 
faction to  the  employed  and  the  employers. 
His  name  is  still  remembered  by  many  of 
those  pupils  and  their  parents,  as  that  of  a 
beloved,  faithful,  and  successful  teacher. 

But  his  labors  were  suddenly  terminated 
in  this  school,  before  the  expiration  of  his 
engagement,  by  an  event  which  will  be 
mentioned  in  our  next  chapter. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A   SCENE   OP    SUFFERING    AND    SORROW.— RE- 
LIGIOUS  IMPRESSIONS. 

A  dark  cloud  was  hovering  over  the 
home  and  family  of  Mr.  Cleaveland,  the 
details  of  which  may,  possibly,  seem  un- 
called for  in  this  little  volume,  but  it  is  so 
intimately  connected  with  the  religious 
life  and  experience  of  Edward,  that  I 
think  it  can  scarcely  be  deemed  out  of 
place.  I  have  thus  far  said  almost  nothing 
of  the  religious  character  of  Edward,  for 
I  preferred  rather  to  give  it  a  place  by 
itself,  up  to  this  period,  although  hereafter 
it  will  be  as  a  part  and  parcel  of  his  every 
day.     Although  Edward  was  always  a  dili 


THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN.  49 


gent  reader  of  the  Bible,  a  lover  of  the 
Sabbath  school,  a  constant  and  attentive 
listener  in  the  sanctuary,  and  a  conscien- 
tious, truthful,  and  strictly  moral  boy  and 
youth,  yet  he  had  reached  his  majority 
before  his  heart  was  brought  to  a  personal 
knowledge  of  salvation  through  the  blood 
of  a  crucified  Saviour,  and  the  sanctifying 
influences  of  the  blessed  Spirit.  When  he 
was  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  there 
was  a  season  of  special  religious  interest 
in  the  town  of  H.,  and  some  of  Edward's 
young  associates  were  hopefully  renewed. 
Edward  was  for  a  time  much  interested  for 
his  own  salvation,  and  for  a  little  season 
hoped  that  he  had  tasted  the  joys  of  the 
penitent,  pardoned  soul;  but  he  subse- 
quently relinquished  this  hope,  although  I 
think  he  was  never  indifferent  to  the  de- 
mands of  this  all-important  subject. 
I  have  often  spoken  of  the  feeble  health 
5 


50  THE   BOY    AND   THE  MAX. 


of  Mr.  Clcaveland,  and  for  many  years  he 
was  a  victim  of  pulmonary  consumption. 
Slowly,  bat  steadily  and  surely,  it  was 
wearing  his  life  away,  and  for  nearly  two 
years  previous  to  the  time  I  have  men- 
tioned, he  was  unable  to  do  any  labor,  or 
attend  much  to  business.  It  was  not  until 
the  last  six  or  seven  weeks  of  Mr.  Cleave- 
land's  life,  that  cither  himself  or  family 
was  fully  convinced  that  his  stay  with  them 
must  be  short.  They  had  become  so  much 
accustomed  to  the  constant  cough,  the  pale, 
thin  form,  the  sunken  cheek,  and  faltering 
step,  that  they  scarcely  noted  the  progress 
of  the  destroyer.  Some  closed  their  eyes 
to  the  actual  truth,  though  sometimes 
reason  would  show  them  the  falsity  of 
their  hopes.  It  was  not  because  Mr.  G. 
feared  to  die,  or  that  he  shrunk  from  pass- 
ing the  dark  valley,  for  he  felt  there  was 
prepared  for  him  a  crown  of  life,  which 


THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN.  51 

the  Lord  would  give  him  at  the  last  day, 
for  the  sake  of  Jesus,  in  whom  he  had 
long  trusted  for  salvation.  But  he  loved 
and  enjoyed  life  as  the  gift  of  God,  and 
he  loved  the  service  of  his  Master,  while  it 
was  his  pleasure  to  prolong  his  stay  on 
earth.  He  was  deeply  interested  in  all 
the  great  moral  and  religious  movements 
of  the  day,  thoroughly  imbued  with  a  self- 
sacrificing  spirit  of  Christian  benevolence, 
and  earnestly  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  For  many  years 
he  was  a  successful  and  laborious  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sabbath  school,  and  at 
other  times,  whenever  health  would  per- 
mit,  an  efficient  teacher  in  tne  same 
blessed  institution.  As  an  officer  of  the 
church  he  was  long  beloved  and  respected. 
As  a  citizen  he  was  known  and  honored 
for  clearness  of  intellect,  sound  judgment, 
and  integrity  of  character.     But  the  work 


52  THE   BOY  AND   THE   MAN. 


which  now  remained  for  him  to  accomplish 
in  honor  of  his  God  and  Saviour,  was  a 
work  of  patient  suffering.  It  is  not  an 
easy  thing  for  the  heart,  in  sincerity,  to 
say  "  Thy  will,  0  God,  be  done,"  but  "  My 
grace,"  says  the  Holy  One,  "shall  be  suffi- 
cient for  thee." 

On  the  first  Sabbath  of  the  new  year,  in 
the  winter  of  which  I  have  spoken,  Mr. 
Cleaveland  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  com- 
memorating a  dying  Saviour's  love,  with 
his  fellow  Christians,  and  it  was  the  last 
time  he  ever  entered  the  house  of  God. 
It  was  a  precious  season  to  his  soul,  and 
perhaps  the  more  so  because  for  many 
mouths  he.  had  been  seldom  al)le  to  enter 
the  sanctuary  that  he  loved  so  well. 
Although  very  feeble,  he  felt  an  almost 
irresistible  desire  to  speak  once  more  to 
the  beloved  Sabbath  school.  Most  kindly 
and  affectionately  he  spoke  a  few  words 


THE   BOY   AND    THE    MAN.  53 

of  loving  admonition,  and  then  he  spoke 
pleasantly  and  cheerfully  of  death,  as  of 
going  home,  after  a  long  and  weary  ab- 
sence. To  the  child  of  God  death  was  but 
the  entrance  to  his  Father's  house,  an  eter- 
nal home  of  happiness  and  joy,  where  the 
treasures  of  his  heart  would  be  enjoyed 
forever. 

He  alluded  to  the  physical  suffering  that 
might  be  experienced  before  we  could 
enter  those  shining  portals,  and  said,  "  If 
we  had  been  absent  a  long  time  from  our 
home,  and  the  dearest  ones  of  our  hearts, 
and  we  were  about  returning  to  this 
beloved  place,  to  dwell  with  the  joyous 
circle  who  would  there  welcome  us  with 
delight,  would  not  our  hearts  be  tilled 
with  pleasant  anticipations  ?  If  some  one 
should  tell  us  that  just  before  we  reached 
this  home  we  should  step  upon  a  thorn, 
that  would  pierce  our  foot  and  cause  us 
5* 


54  THE   BOY    AND   THE    MAN. 


momentary  pain,  would  it  lessen  our  joyful 
hope,  or  darken  our  bright  anticipations? 
No,  we  should  'scarcely  give  it  a  passing 
thought.  And  the  pains  of  death  are  only 
as  a  little  thorn  in  our  way  to  our  heav- 
enly home,  where  we  shall  live  forever 
before  the  throne." 

It  was  no  ordinary  thorn  on  which  he 
was  called  to  tread  as  he  neared  hi? 
Jerusalem  home,  but  he  leaned  upon  the 
arm  of  Jesus,  the  Great  Physician,  and  he 
bound  up  each  wound  with  the  holy  oint- 
ment of  Christian  patience,  and  cheered 
every  pain  with  the  light  of  his  loving 
countenance. 

It  was  a  pleasant  diversion  for  Mr. 
Cleaveland,  in  his  retirement  and  debility, 
to  watch  the  changes  of  the  weather,  as 
indicated  by  the  thermometer ;  and  it  wa3 
his  custom,  on  first  rising  in  the  morning, 
to  step  out  upon  the  piazza  and  look  at 


THE    BOY    AND    THE    MAN.  55 


the  little  instrument.  One  morning,  soon 
after  the  sacred  season  to  which  I  have 
referred,  when  the  dampness  of  a  winter 
fog  had  frozen  upon  the  floor,  he  stepped 
out,  as  usual,  on  to  the  piazza,  cautiously, 
as  he  thought,  to  avoid  the  ice,  but  at  the 
iirst  step  from  the  threshold  his  foot 
slipped,  and  he  fell  violently  upon  the 
floor.  There  was  no  apparent  local  injury, 
but  the  severe  shock  to  his  general  system 
was  more  than  his  feeble  frame  could 
endure,  and  he  never  recovered  from  it; 
and  from  that  hour  his  strength  wasted, 
and  his  sufferings  became  intense. 

For  two  or  three  weeks  he  continued 
to  take  his  meals  with  the  family^  as  usual, 
and  to  lead  the  devotions  at  the  family 
altar ;  but  the  cough  was  more  and  more 
troublesome,  and  the  difficulty  of  breathing 
was,  at  times,  distressing,  until,  at  length, 
he  could  leave  his  room  no  more.     And 


56  THE   BOY   AND  THE   MAN. 


that  sick-room  was  a  place  where  God 
made  rich  and  glorious  displays  of  his 
power  and  loving  -kindness.  There  was 
manifested  the  sweet  submission  of  a 
stricken  child,  and  the  holy  joy  of  the 
dying  believer. 

The  heart  of  that  wife  and  mother  was 
sorely  trijd  as  she  saw  the  loved  com- 
panion of  her  youth  about  to  leave  her, 
but  she  bowed  her  will  to  the  Supreme. 
In  bitter  tears  would  she  ask  herself, 
"  Who  will  take  his  place  at  the  family 
altar?  Who  will  offer  the  morning  and 
evening  sacrifice  ? "  For  as  yet  the  in- 
cense of  humble,  penitent  prayer  went 
not  up  from  the  heart  of  one  of  her  three 
children.  And  must  the  sacrifice  hence- 
forth be  offered  by  a  priestess  in  this 
household,  which,  from  generation  to  gen- 
eration, had  enjoyed  the  ministry  of  God's 
chosen  servants  ?    Yes,  surely,  rather  than 


THE   BOY   AND    THE   MAN".  57 


that  the  altar  be  destroyed.  But  is  not 
the  covenant  "  to  them  and  to  their  chil- 
dren ?  " 

But  we  will  turn  to  that  sacred  room 
again.  That  pious  father  believed  in  God, 
and  knew  in  whom  he  had  believed.  No 
doubts  of  acceptance  dimmed  the  bright- 
ness of  his  spiritual  vision.  Not  for  him- 
self had  he  one  anxiety,  but  he  remembered 
perishing  souls  around  him,  and  the  loved 
church  to  which  he  belonged,  and  earnestly 
in  faith  did  he  pray  that  the  Spirit  might 
descend  with  mighty  power,  to  arouse 
slumbering  Christians,  and  bring  multi- 
tudes of  the  impenitent  to  the  feet  of 
Jesus.  He  did  not  forget  his  own  beloved 
children,  yet  he  seemed  to  have  taken  them 
in  the  arms  of  faith  and  laid  them  upon 
God's  altar,  with  an  almost  perfect  trust 
that  the  Lord  would  accept  the  offering. 
He  said  and  truly  felt  that  the  souls  of 


58  THE   BOY   AND    THE   MAN/ 


his  children  were  no  more  precious  than 
the  souls  of  any  others.  Was  it  that  the 
father  was  wholly  swallowed  up  in  the 
Christian,  that  he  seemed  to  feel  as  deeply 
for  other  sinners  as  for  his  own  children  ? 
If  so,  we  have  good  reason  to  believe  that 
it  was  well  pleasing  to  God. 

For  days  and  weeks  the  watchers  by 
that  couch  of  severe  suffering  looked 
almost  hourly  for  the  release  of  the  fet- 
tered spirit,  and  for  himself  his  prayer  was 
that  he  might  have  grace  to  wait  and 
suffer  God's  appointed  time. 

It  was  to  minister  to  the  comfort  of  his 
dying  father  that  Edward  left  his  school 
before  the  close  of  the  term,  and,  though 
a  mournful  one,  it  was  a  precious  privi- 
lege to  all  who  were  allowed  to  witness 
the  cheerful  trust  of  the  believer.  Al- 
though it  caused  the  bravest  hearts  to 
^uail,   as   they  saw  the   contest   between 


THE   BOY   AND    THE  MAN.  59 


nature  and  the  destroying  foe,  yet  many 
friends  felt  that  it  was  good  to  be  there, 
and  not  a  few  precious  souls  will  praise 
God  through  eternity  for  the  sanctified 
lessons  of  those  weeks. 

Some  three  weeks  before  his  final  de- 
parture, as  the  family  were  for  a  brief 
hour  left  alone,  Mr.  Cleaveland,  feeling 
that  his  breath  might  cease  at  any  moment, 
desired  to  take  leave  of  the  dear  circle. 
They  gathered  around  his  bed,  and,  while 
tears  which  could  not  be  repressed  flowed 
from  all  other  eyes,  with  eyes  that  were 
to  weep  no  more,  and  a  calm  and  cheerful 
smile,  he  gave  to  each  the  parting  hand, 
and  breathed  the  word  farewell ;  and  then 
with  a  few  feebly  uttered  but  earnest 
words,  he  commended  himself  and  his 
precious  family  to  his  Saviour's  care,  and 
prayed  that  "  we  may  all  meet,  a  happy 
family,  in  heaven."     But  weeks  of  weari- 


THE   BOY    AND   THE   MAN. 


ness  and  pain  were  assigned  to  him  before 
the  crown  of  victory  could  be  given  him, 
all  of  which  were  borne  without  one  mur- 
muring word. 

At  one  time  he  said,  "  This  is  a  dark 
cloud  of  suffering  which  is  now  hanging 
over  us,  but  there  is  a  bright  cloud  of 
glory  behind  it."  On  a  bright  and  beau- 
tiful Sabbath  morning  he  said,  with  a  smile, 
"This  is  a  beautiful  world;  it  is  God's 
world ;  but  I  had  hoped  to  be  in  a  better 
world  this  morning."  It  was  with  great 
difficulty  that  he  could  converse  at  all, 
and  was  only  able  to  speak  a  few  words 
at  intervals;  but  the  few  words  of  gentle 
admonition,  patient  submission,  or  of  glo- 
rious hope,  were  as  good  seed  sown  and 
watered  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  which  took 
root  in  the  hearts  of  those  around  him, 
and   afterwards,   as   we    believe,   brought 


THE   BOY   AND    THE   MAN.  Gl 


forth  fruit   to   the    glory  of    God  in  tne 
salvation  of  immortal  souls. 

One  morning  when  his  daughter,  who 
was  an  invalid,  entered  the  room,  giving 
her  his  hand,  he  said,  with  a  face  radiant 
with  a  smile  which  told  of  perfect  peace, 
though  panting  for  breath,  "  Good  morning, 
I  am  glad  to  see  you  looking  better  to- 
day;" then  added,  most  impressively,  "I 
want  you  should  give  your  heart  to  Jesas." 
Her  only  reply  was  a  silent  pressure  of 
the  thin,  white  hand  she  held,  but  from 
that  moment  she  felt  that  her  wprd  was 
sacredly  pledged  to  that  dying  father,  who 
was  almost  the  idol  of  her  heart,  to  "  seek 
first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righto 
ousness." 

And  while  this  cloud  of  suffering  was 
hanging  over  our  friends,  a  great  clouil  of 
mercy  was  hovering  over  this  portion  of 
Zion,  and   before   Mr.    Cleaveland   closed 


62  THE  BOY  AND   THE   MAN. 


his  eyes  in  his  last  sleep,  he  had  the  sweet 
pleasure  of  knowing  that  the  Spirit  of 
God  was  moving  the  hearts  of  the  impeni- 
tent around  him,  and  that  many  were 
turning  to  the  Lord.  It  would  almost 
seem  that  his  life  had  been  unexpectedly 
prolonged,  that  he  might  witness  on  earth 
the  answer  to  his  long-continued,  earnest 
prayers  for  a  blessing. 

But  he  did  not  live  to  hear  the  song 
of  praise  for  pardoning  mercy  from  the 
lips  of  his  own  children,  though  we  hope 
it  was  not  long  before  he  rejoiced,  in  com- 
pany with  the  angels  in  heaven,  over  those 
repenting  souls. 

And,  finally,  the  day  arrived  when  this 
ransomed  soul  exchanged  its  frail,  ema- 
ciated tenement  of  clay  for  a  "  mansion 
not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens."  He  was  almost  the  first  to 
notice  the  signs  of  immediate  dissolution, 


THE  BOY   AND   THE  MAN.  63 


and  each  hour  he  watched  the  progress 
of  death.  But  death  came  to  him  only  as 
a  welcome  friend,  and  he  felt  no  fear,  for 
he  leaned  upon  the  arm  of  his  Beloved. 
When  his  sight  was  wholly  obscured,  and 
he  knew  his  release  was  very  near,  he 
called  for  his  family,  and,  one  by  one,  they 
received  the  last  kiss  from  those  icy  lips, 
and  heard  his  last  farewell.  Then,  quietly 
folding  his  hands  upon  his  breast,  he 
breathed  the  words,  "  Come,  Lord  Jesus, 
come  quickly."  "  Into  thy  hands  I  commit 
my  spirit."  These  were  his  last  words. 
Short  and  shorter  was  each  breath,  each 
pulse  more  feeble,  until  the  heart  ceased 
to  beat,  and  he  was  free. 

And  he  went  not  "  as  one  lies  down  to 
pleasant  dreams,"  but  as  one  enters  on 
unspeakably  bright  and  sure  realities.  It 
was  at  evening,  just  as  the  last  red  light 
was  fading  from  the  sky  of  early  spring, 


64  THE   BOY   AND   THE  MAN. 


that  this  ransomed  spirit  was  borne  to  the 
courts  of  the  New  Jerusalem,  to  be  robed 
in  spotless  white,  and  with  the  heavenly 
choir  to  sing  the  praises  of  the  Lamb  that 
was  slain,  to  ^o  no  more  out  forever. 
"and  there  shall  be  no  night  theee." 

And  two  days  after,  while  the  clouds 
dropped  rain,  and  tears  flowed  from  many 
eyes,  they  bore  his  sacred  form  to  its  last 
silent  resting-place,  and  beside  the  open 
grave  they  sang  that  beautiful  hymn  com- 
mencing, 

"Unveil  thy  bosom,  faithful  tomb," 

and  heard  those  blessed  words,  "  I  am  the 
resurrection  and  the  life."  And  there 
lhey  laid  him,  to  await  the  trump  of  the 
last  great  day,  and  left  him  alone  with 
his  God.  And  there  we,  too,  will  leave 
him,  and  return  to  the  lonely  home,  and  to 
our  friend  Edward;  but  let  us  carry  with 


THE   BOY   AND    THE    MAN.  65 


us  from  this  scene  a  hallowed  influence  for 
good. 

And  now  all  offices  of  love  and  atten- 
tion were  at  an  end  for  the  loved  one 
who  had  so  long  engrossed  the  thoughts 
and  time  of  this  family  circle,  and  it  only 
remained  for  them  to  make  a  wise  and 
spiritual  improvement  of  this  dispensation, 
and  the  lessons  it  so  forcibly  taught  them. 

For  one  short  week  that  afflicted  moth- 
er's voice  was  heard  amid  her  tears,  plead- 
ing importunately  from  that  altar,  whose 
priest  had  been  raised  to  a  more  exalted 
service,  that  these  afflictions  might  be 
sanctified  to  them  all  by  the  blessing  of 
the  gracious  Spirit.  All  felt  that  now  was 
the  time  to  seek  the  Lord,  —  that  this  was, 
indeed,  a  day  of  grace.  The  mercy-drops 
were  falling  around  them;  meetings  for 
conference  and  prayer  were  solemn  and 
impressive,  and  preaching  services  deeply 


66  THE   BOY    AND   THE   MAN. 


interesting.  But  to  the  hearts  of  those 
three  children  the  still  small  voice  from 
that  sick-room  wa3  most  intensely  power- 
ful. Their  education  had  been  eminently 
religious,  and  this  they  now  saw  and  felt 
increased  their  guilt  in  the  sight  of  a 
righteous  God.  They  knew  there  was 
none  other  name  or  way  than  that  of  the 
blessed  Jesus  and  his  blood,  by  which  they 
could  hope  for  salvation,  and  each  silently 
resolved  to  rest  not  until  they  should  find 
peace  beside  the  cross  of  Calvary.  A  sol- 
emn stillness  pervaded  the  house :  little 
was  said;  but  the  Spirit  was  working  pow- 
erfully and  effectively  in  each  heart. 

A  few  days  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Cleaveland,  as  Edward  was  present  at  a 
little  meeting  for  social  prayer,  the  forty- 
second  psalm,  most  beautifully  commencing, 
u  As  the  hart  panteth  after  the  water 
brooks,  so  panteth  my  soul  after  thee,  ( 
5 


THE   BOY    AND    THE    MAN.  67 


God;  my  soul  thirsteth  for  God,  for  the 
living  God,"  was  read.  While  he  listened 
intently  to  those  words,  he  felt  them  to  be 
the  earnest  utterance  of  his  own  longing 
soul.  And  God  was  not  far  from  that 
troubled  sinner,  but  very  near,  even  in  his 
heart.  It  was  then  that  the  glorious  Sun 
of  Righteousness  dawned,  with  a  healing 
light,  upon  his  sin-sick  soul.  There  he 
laid  his  burden  down  beside  the  cross,  and 
calmly  raised  his  trusting  eyes  to  the 
beanwng  face  of  a  crucified  and  forgiving 
Saviour,  and,  with  humble  confidence,  said 
with  the  Psalmist,  "  Why  art  thou  cast 
down,  0  my  soul?  why  art  thou  disquieted 
in  me  ?  Hope  thou  in  God,  for  I  shall 
yet  praise  him  who  is  the  health  of  my 
countenance  and  my  God." 

In  just  one  week  after  the  remains  of 
the  father  were  consigned  to  their  kindred 
dust,  Edward    knelt    beside    that    family 


68  THE   BOY  AND   THE   MAN. 


altar,  and  breathed  forth  the  prayer  of 
his  contrite  and  believing  soul;  and  ere 
another  week  had  passed,  his  brother 
George  had  a  new  song  put  into  his 
mouth,  and  he  was  ready  to  bear  his  part 
in  the  ministrations  of  the  altar;  and 
from  that  time,  while  both  remained  at 
home,  these  brothers  alternated  morning 
and  evening  in  the  performance  of  this 
beautiful  and  delightful  household  duty. 

In  less  than  two  weeks  from  the  hour 
when  they  had  heard  the  last  farewell 
from  the  lips  of  that  fondly  loved  husband 
and  father,  each  member  of  that  bereaved 
circle  was  hopefully  trusting  in  God  as 
their  Father,  in  Jesus  as  their  blessed 
Redeemer,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  as  their 
Sanctifier  and  Comforter.  That  mother's 
heart  was  made  to  leap  for  joy  in  the 
midst  of  the  "valley  of  Baca,"  and  the 
days  of  her  first  great  sorrow  were  light- 


THE    BOY    AND   THE   MAN.  69 


encd  by  a  new  and  grateful  gladness.  The 
Lord  was  better  to  her  than  she  feared, 
and  her  faith  in  him  and  his  promises  was 
strengthened. 

But  it  was  not  in  the  family  alone  that 
the  voices  of  these  young  Christians  was 
heard  in  prayer,  for  at  once  they  began 
to  take  an  active  part  in  the  social  meet- 
ings, and  the  influence  of  these  early  labors 
was  never  lost  upon  themselves,  whatever 
the  effect  may  have  been  upon  others. 

It  is  so  much  easier  to  take  up  the 
cross  in  the  service  of  Christ  when  his 
love  is  first  shed  abroad  in  the  heart,  and 
the  glow  of  devotion  is  new  to  the  soul, 
than  to  delay  until  silence  has  become 
habitual.  I  am  not  one  of  those  who 
believe  that  every  one  should  be  made  to 
speak  or  pray  in  public,  or  be  unreason- 
ably urged  to  do  so ;  but  I  do  think  that 
their  efforts  to  do  so  should  be  encouraged 


10  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 

by  elder  Christians.  I  have  heard  pro- 
fessors of  religion  say  that  they  did  not 
wish  to  hear  young  converts  speak  or  pray 
in  meetings  when  there  were  more  expe- 
rienced Christians  present,  for  it  was  not 
their  place,  —  they  could  not  do  it  to  edi- 
fication, and  it  was  only  the  same  thing 
over  and  over  again.  It  was  tiresome  to 
listen  to  them.  Is  it  tiresome  to  listen  to 
the  voice  which  tells  of  the  joy  of  par- 
doned sin,  and  the  love  of  Christ  ?  Has 
not  the  heart  of  many  an  advanced  disciple 
been  melted,  his  love  quickened,  his  faith 
strengthened,  and  his  good  resolutions  re- 
newed, as  he  has  listened  to  the  trembling, 
yet  earnest  words  of  some  new-born  soul? 
And  is  not  the  youthful  soldier  better  pre- 
pared to  take  a  bold  stand  in  the  army  of 
the  Lord  for  each  judicious  effort  to  bear 
a  humble  part  in  the  Christian  warfare  ? 
Let  us,  then,  be  careful  not  to  offend  one 


THE    BOY    AND    THE   MAN.  71 


of  these  little  ones,  who  are  precious  in 
the  sight  of  the  Lord. 

In  a  few  mouths  Edward  Cleaveland, 
with  his  brother  and  sister,  in  company 
with  nearly  fifty  of  the  recent  hopeful 
converts,  publicly  professed  their  faith  in 
Christ  and  entered  into  solemn  covenant 
to  be  the  faithful  servants  of  the  Lord.  In 
reference  to  this  occasion  Edward  said  to 
his  brother  and  sister  that  it  was  pleasant 
to  think  of  uniting  with  the  visible  church 
in  company  with  so  many,  but,  if  he  should 
consult  his  own  personal  feelings  merely, 
he  should  prefer  to  come  alone  and  conse- 
crate himself  publicly;  for  it  seemed  to 
him  that  the  solemn  sense  of  individual 
responsibility,  both  toward  God  and  his 
fellow-men,  would  be  greater. 

Edward  was  always  strictly  moral  in  all 
his  habits  and  deportment,  so  that  there 
was  less  change  in  his  external  character 


72  THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN. 


than  may  be  seen  in  many,  or,  perhaps, 
most  young  men.  He  always  loved  the 
truth,  and  was  obedient  to  his  parents. 
He  ever  respected  religion,  and  admired 
the  examples  of  piety  with  which  he  was 
familiar,  and  some  portions  of  the  Bible 
possessed  great  attractions  for  him,  espe- 
cially the  historical  part  of  it.  But  the 
change  of  heart  was  none  the  less  real, 
and  none  the  less  needed  because  of  this 
morality  and  integrity ;  for  the  motive  was 
not  love  to  God,  and  he  had  not  until  now 
a  saving  faith  in  the  atonement  of  Jesus 
Christ. 

But  now  he  truly  loved  those  truths 
which  before  he  only  respected,  and  de- 
lighted in  the  performance  of  those  ser- 
vices which  had  been,  in  a  great  degree, 
matters  of  habit  and  early  education.  His 
heart  was  now  deeply  interested  in  that 
which  formerly  only  reached  his  intellect 


THE    BOY    AND    THE    MAN.  73 


He  was,  indeed,  a  new  creature  in  Christ 
Jesus,  and  he  saw  the  necessity  of  watch- 
fulness and  prayer  to  overcome  a  host  of 
easily  besetting  sins. 

Christian  principle  now  governed  his 
conduct,  and  controlled  his  naturally  impul- 
sive and  somewhat  impetuous  disposition. 
Grace  modified,  purified,  and  strengthened 
the  more  noble  and  elevating  elements  of 
his  character,  and  subdued  and  softened 
less  desirable  traits,  thus  forming  a  beau- 
tiful and  symmetrical  whole.  His  aspira- 
tions were  lofty,  but  not  ambitious,  only  as 
he  coveted  earnestly  the  best  gifts.  His 
standard  for  moral  and  intellectual  attain- 
ments was  high,  and  constantly  ascending 
as  he  progressed  onward  and  upward. 
And  then  came  renewed  longings  of  soul 
for  superior  advantages  and  a  more  thor- 
ough educational  training.  But  there  were 
even  additional  reasons  why  these  earnest 
4* 


74  THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN. 


desires  could  not  be  gratified,  and  reluc- 
tantly but  cheerfully  he  yielded,  following 
the  dictates  of  conscience  rather  than 
inclination.  He  could  now  trust  his  heav- 
enly Father's  guidance,  and  fully  believe 
that,  although  he  could  not  at  present 
understand  the  reason  for  this  chain  of 
opposing  circumstances,  yet  all  was  or- 
dered by  unerring  and  infinite  Wisdom  and 
Love,  and  would  result  in  his  highest  good. 


CHAPTER  V. 

HOME   DUTIES. GOES   ABROAD    TO    TEACH. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  Edward 
felt  that,  for  a  time  at  least,  his  place  was 
at  home,  to  minister  to  the  comfort  of  his 
•widowed  mother,  and  superintend  and 
assist  in  the  general  business  of  the  farm  ; 
as  his  brother  was  not  yet  qualified  by  age 
to  take  charge  of  such  affairs  legally.  It 
is  almost  invariably  the  fact,  when  a  man 
in  moderate  circumstances  leaves  an  estate 
to  be  settled  by  others,  the  amount  of 
property  remaining  after  settlement  is  less 
than  was  expected;  so  it  proved  in  the 
case  of  Mr.  Cleavcland. 

He   was   conscious    that   his    pecuniary 


76  THE   BOY   AND    THE   MAN. 


affairs  were  somewhat  embarrassed ;  still, 
he  left  his  family  with  the  assured  feeling 
that  a  pleasant  home,  and  means  for  a 
comfortable  subsistence  would  remain  for 
them,  after  all  liabilities  were  discharged. 
But  the  result  did  not  fully  realize  this 
expectation.  Yet  he  left  them  a  legacy  far 
richer  and  more  to  be  desired  than  houses 
or  lands,  or  millions  of  gold  and  silver, 
which  perish  with  the  using. 

Edward  did  not  improve  in  health  as  the 
months  passed  away,  and  the  effort  of 
watching  and  tending  his  father  in  his  last 
distressing  illness  greatly  increased  the 
difficulty  in  his  side,  so  that  it  was  more 
than  ever  apparent  that  he  could  never 
endure  the  severe  practical  life  of  a  farm. 
He  consequently  decided  to  leave  home  as 
soon  as  suitable  arrangements  could  be 
made,  and  devote  his  energies  to  teaching. 
The  year  following  the  death  of  his  father 


THE   BOY   AND    THE   MAN.  77 


he  procured  a  situation  in  one  of  the  Mid- 
dle States,  and  there  he  labored  for  four 
years  acceptably  and  successfully,  gaining 
for  himself  the  warm-hearted  affection  of 
his  pupils,  and  the  sincere  friendship  and 
enduring  respect  of  the  community. 

A  large  circle  of  friends  gathered  around 
him,  who  admired  his  native  talents,  refined 
tastes,  and  high  mental,  moral,  and  social 
character.  The  flattering  attentions  he 
received,  and  the  high  position  in  society 
which  was  at  once  given  him,  instead  of 
fostering  a  foolish  and  vain  pride,  which  is 
both  disgusting  to  others,  and  destructive 
to  the  continued  progress  of  its  possessor, 
only  stimulated  Edward  Cleaveland  to 
higher  attainments,  that  he  might  become 
more  truly  worthy  of  the  confidence  al- 
ready reposed  in  him.  To  the  noble  mind 
and  heart  of  one  who  seeks  cultivation  and 
improvement  from  a  correct  sense  of  moral 
5* 


78  THE   BOY   AND  THE   MAN 

obligation,  success  will  induce  a  genn.^j 
and  healthy  gratitude,  that  leads  to  still 
more  ardent  endeavors  for  future  growth; 
and  such  was  the  effect  upon  our  friend. 
He  regarded  himself  as  a  creature  of  God, 
endowed  with  powers  and  faculties  capa- 
ble of  endless  improvement  and  expansion. 
It  was  to  him  a  holy  joy  that  upward 
progress  would  be  eternal,  and  he  looked 
upon  it  as  a  sacred  duty  which  he  owed  to 
his  God  and  Saviour,  to  himself  and  to  his 
fellow-men,  to  cultivate  and  enlarge  these 
immortal  powers,  and,  at  the  same  time,  it 
was  to  him  a  source  of  the  purest  enjoy- 
ment. And  he  wished  to  bless  others  to 
the  extent  of  his  ability,  and  for  this 
reason  it  was  a  real  pleasure  to  him  to 
impart  instruction,  and  here  lay  one  great 
element  of  his  success  as  a  teacher.  lie 
loved   his    work,  and   gave    himself  to    it 


THE   BOY    AND   THE    MAN.  79 


enthusiastically.  It  was  not  to  him  a 
task,  but  a  delightful  occupation. 

Although  Edward '  Cleaveland  had  gone 
forth  from  his  early  home,  he  carried  with 
him  a  truly  filial  heart,  and  felt  that,  as 
the  eldest  son,  lie  was  henceforth  to  be  the 
stay  and  support  of  his  widowed  mother; 
and  for  this  he  labored,  and  to  fulfil  this 
mission  was  a  fixed  and  abiding  purpose  of 
his  life.  Nor  was  it  simply  in  the  relation 
of  a  son  that  the  more  beautiful  and  lovely 
traits,  of  his  character  were  displayed ;  for 
his  generous  affection  and  self-sacrificing 
devotion  were  not  less  apparent  in  the 
brother  than  the  son. 

I  have  scarcely  mentioned  Edward's  only 
sister  Susan,  nor  would  I  here  speak  of 
her,  did  I  not  feel  that  the  omission  of  it 
would  do  injustice  to  the  subject  of  this 
little  sketch.  Susan  was  the  youngest 
flower  in  the  little  home   garden  of  Mr 


80  THE   BOY   AND  THE   MAN. 


Cleaveland.  The  bud  was  lovely  and 
beautiful,  giving  to  those  tender  parents 
fair  promise  for  the  full  and  bright  devel- 
opment of  their  cherished  plant. 

Those  brothers,  too,  loved  her  most  ten- 
derly, and  when  she  was  a  wee  bit  of  a 
baby,  Edward,  though  a  very  little  boy, 
would  sit  in  his  little  chair,  and  entreat 
his  mother  to  let  him  hold  his  dear  sister, 
and  when  she  placed  her  in  his  arms  he 
would  hold  her  most  carefully,  and  gaze 
admiringly  on  her  chubby,  round  face,  and 
bright  black  eyes.  And,  to  his  vision,  at 
least,  she  was  exceedingly  beautiful. 

But  scarce  six  summers  had  passed  over 
her  curly  head  when  the  blighting  breath 
of  disease  swept  over  her.  The  rose  faded 
from  her  cheek,  and  never  blossomed  there 
more,  and  the  blooming  flower  was  changed 
to  the  pale,  white  lily.  Those  sparkling 
eyes  were  dimmed,  and,  at  times,  the  win- 


THE   BOY   AND   THE  MAN.  81 


dows  of  her  little  soul  were  almost  blot- 
ted out. 

For  many  years  a  deep  green  shade  at 
all  times  screened  her  eyes  from  the  glad 
light  of  the  sun,  and  almost  covered  her 
pale  face.  Although  she  dearly  loved  to 
read  and  study,  it  was  only  with  her  ears 
that  her  desire  for  knowledge  could  be 
gratified.  But  kind  friends  often  read 
to  her,  and  during  their  vacations  her 
brothers  used  daily  to  devote  an  hour  or 
two  to  reading  her  lessons  in  geography, 
history,  and  other  primary  studies,  and 
then  question  her  on  what  they  had  read. 
In  this  way  she  learned  a  little  without 
using  her  eyes. 

She  was  always  the  pet  of  the  house- 
hold, but  a  new  element  entered  into  their 
hearts  as  they  beheld  the  stricken  child. 
The  loving  pride  which  was  awakened  by 
the   beautiful   bud,  gave   place  to  a  more 


THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 


tender,  sympathizing,  watchful  love.  Not 
that  they  ever  failed  to  love  her  truly,  but 
they  afterwards  felt  that  too  much  of 
pride  had  been  indulged,  and  they  saw  the 
goodness  and  mercy  of  their  kind  heavenly 
Father  in  thus  testing  their  love  to  him  by 
laying  his  hand  upon  their  little  idol. 

Although  after  many  years  of  suffering, 
medical  treatment,  under  the  blessing  of 
God,  availed  to  remove  in  a  great  measure 
the  effect  of  disease,  yet  she  was  never 
fully  restored,  but  was  ever  a  fragile  plant, 
that  those  tender  friends  believed  could 
never  endure  the  rougher  duties  of  life, 
and  most  lovingly  they  sought  to  shield 
her  from  each  rude  blast. 

Edward  Clcaveland  always  loved  his 
.  sis'ter  with  the  strength  of  his  warm,  gen- 
erous, noble  heart,  and  when  that  beloved, 
affectionate  father  was  taken  away,  ho 
cherished   for   her   not    only   a   brother'? 


THE   BOY   AND    THE  MAN.  83 


constant  affection,  but  there  was  also 
added  to  and  blended  with  it  something: 
of  a  father's  watchful  care. 

When  she  was  able  to  attend  school, 
which  was  not  until  after  the  death  of  her 
father,  Edward  from  his  own  salary  de- 
frayed her  expenses,  and  was  never  weary 
of  contributing  to  her  comfort  and  im- 
provement. It  was  not  without  self-denial 
that  these  offices  of  love  were  performed 
by  him,  for  he  had  only  a  moderate  salary. 
But  the  more  he  cared  for  her  wants  and 
ministered  to  her  necessity,  the  more 
closely  was  his  heart  bound  to  her,  until 
their  very  lives  seemed  blended  together. 
Her  school  friends  used  playfully  to  tell 
Susan  that  they  were  "much  more  like 
lovers  than  brother  and  sister,  nor  was 
their  attachment  less  strong,  deep,  and 
abiding,  though,  of  course,  different  in  its 
nature,  from  the  affection  of  two  hearts 


84  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 

bearing  to  each  other  the  relation  of 
lovers. 

One  who  knew  Edward  Cleaveland  well 
for  the  last  five  years  of  his  life  said,  in 
alluding  to  this  brother  and  sister,  "  They 
are  my  beau  ideal  of  what  a  brother  and 
sister  should  be  to  each  other."  And, 
certainly,  there  are  very  few  whose  char- 
acter as  a  brother  shines  brighter  than  did 
that  of  Edward  Cleaveland;  and  he  was 
honored  and  respected  for  it  while  living, 
and  by  many  has  his  name  been  praised 
for  it  since  he  passed  away  to  the  better 
land. 

There  are  not  a  few  young  men  who 
seem  to  feel  that  their  manliness  and  dig- 
nity are  compromised  by  any  polite  and 
affectionate  attentions  to  their  sisters, 
especially  if  any  other  young  ladies  are 
present ;  and  more  particularly  is  this  feel- 
ing manifested  by  those  brothers  who  nave 


THE   BOY   AND    THE   MAN.  85 


enjoyed  greater  social  and  educational  ad- 
vantages than  their  sisters.  But  such  young 
men  never  win  for  themselves  the  respect 
of  the  truly  noble  in  society.  And  the 
same  remark  may  apply  with  equal  force 
to  many  a  "  would  be  "  accomplished  young 
lady,  who  treats  with  marked  indifference, 
or  even  disrespect,  her  worthy  but  less 
favored  brother.  Alas  !  such  foolish,  short- 
sighted creatures  realize  little  the  injury 
they  are  thus  doing  to  both  themselves 
and  others.  The  truly  cultivated  and 
refined  brother  or  sister  may  be  of  incal- 
culable service  to  other  members  of  the 
home  circle  without  any  sacrifice  of  real 
good,  but,  on  the  contrary,  will  reap  a  rich 
reward  in  their  own  hearts.  Self-denial, 
when  exercised  from  right  motives,  and 
for  the  real  good  of  others,  yields  some 
of  the  choicest  fruit,  and  is  the  source  of 
the  sweetest  joy  that  this  world  affords. 
8 


THE    BOY    AND    THE    MAN. 


The  consciousness  of  being  a  comfort  and 
blessing  to  others  will  compensate  for  the 
loss  of  many  more  selfish  pleasures,  and 
this  joy  gladdened  the  soul  of  Edward 
Cleaveland  '  for  many  years  of  his  life. 
The  promise  is  sure,  — "  The  liberal  soul 
shall  be  made  fat;  and  he  that  watereth 
shall  be  watered  also  himself."  To  be 
sure,  it  is  not  always  that  the  riches  of 
this  world  are  granted  as  the  reward  of 
true  benevolence,  but  there  arc  riches  far 
more  precious  than  the  golden  treasures 
of  earth,  which  often  "  take  to  themselves 
wings  and  fly  away,"  but  these  shall  abide 
forever. 

And  here  I  would  mention  a  very  rare 
but  strikingly  beautiful  instance  of  filial 
and  fraternal  affection,  overruling  all  other 
emotions  and  wishes,  strong  and  tender  as 
those  other  natural  and  reasonable  long- 
ings of  the  soul  might  be.     It  was  a  high 


THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN.  87 


and  noble  but  secret  resolve  that  Edward 
Cleaveland  made,  and  pledged  himself  to 
his  own  heart  and  his  God  to  perform. 
He  solemnly  determined  that  his  first 
duty  was  to  provide  for  his  mother  and 
sister,  and  firmly  resolved  that  he  would 
never  seek  a  home  of  his  own,  or  allow 
his  heart  to  fix  its  purest  and  holiest 
affections  upon  another,  who  might  be  the 
sunlight  of  such  a  home  and  the  sharer  of 
all  his  joys  and  sorrows,  until  his  pecu- 
niary resources  should  be  such  that  he 
could  do  so  without  any  infringement  upon 
what  he  regarded  as  his  first  duty. 

And  faithfully  did  he  execute  his  pur- 
pose, despite  the  earnest  remonstrance  of 
friends  who  could  not  read  his  heart,  for 
he  boasted  not  of  his  noble  motive,  and 
revealed  it  to  very  few.  His  sensitive 
spirit  was  often  grieved  as  the  thoughtless 
jest  or  the  words  of  ridicule  were  turned 


88  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 


against  him,  by  those  who  did  not  under- 
stand and  could  not  appreciate  the  circum- 
stances. He  had  the  consciousness  of 
right  intent  and  the  approval  of  his  own 
heart,  and,  he  fully  believed,  the  blessed 
sanction  of  his  Friend  above.  He  was 
ever  cheerful  and  happy,  enjoying  the  many 
pleasures  which  surrounded  him,  without 
making  himself  unhappy  by  fruitless  re- 
pinings  for  other  joys. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HIS   HEALTH   PAILS. —  HE   IS   OBLIGED   TO 
LEAVE   TEACHING  FOB   A  TIME. 

The  months  and  years  passed  very 
pleasantly  to  Edward  Cleaveland,  for  he 
loved  his  work,  and  rejoiced  in  the  visible 
improvement  of  his  pupils,  and  the  in- 
creasing favor  and  respect  of  his  patrons. 
But  he  labored  too  constantly,  and  allowed 
himself  too  little  time  for  recreation  and 
rest.  He  had  not  yet  learned  to  exercise 
that  care  and  attention  to  his  physical 
well-being  which  experience  taught  him 
were  indispensable  to  the  preservation  of 
his  health. 

With  the  exception  of  a  yearly  visit  to 
his  home  friends,  he  scarcely  allowed  him- 
8* 


90  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 


self  a  week  of  relaxation  for  four  years, 
and  his  duties  were  often  very  arduous. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  fourth  year  of 
teaching  he  was  so  much  debilitated  as  to 
render  rest,  or,  at  least,  a  change  of  occu- 
pation absolutely  indispensable,  unless  he 
was  willing  to  incur  the  guilt  of  commit- 
ting slow,  but  certain  suicide.  It  was  not 
from  choice,  but  necessity,  that  he  bade 
adieu  to  his  pupils  and  many  friends  in 
the  delightful  village  of  M.  and  its  vicinity, 
and  turned  his  face  northward,  expecting 
to  return  no  more  to  his  beloved  charge. 
The  pain  in  his  side  had  been  constant, 
and  often  very  severe,  and  yet,  so  bright 
and  cheerful  was  his  spirit,  and  his  face 
always  so  animated  and  pleasant,  that  no 
one  would  ever  suspect  that  he  experi- 
enced aught  of  pain.  It  is  a  blessed 
power  which  is  given  to  some  people  to 
rise  above  the   sufferings  of  the  physical 


THE    BOY    AND    THE    MAN.  91 


nature,  and  maintain  a  habitual  and  un- 
feigned cheerfulness  under  the  most  trying 
experiences  of  a  diseased  system.  It  is 
an  attainment  well  worth  striving  after 
most  earnestly  and  prayerfully,  for  it  often 
adds  very  essentially  to  the  comfort  of 
those  about  us,  and  tends  in  a  high  degree 
to  hasten  the  recovery  of  the  sufferer.  It 
is  an  occasion  of  gratitude  to  our  kind 
Father  in  heaven,  if  ever  such  self-control 
is  granted,  and  such  perfect  submission  to 
all  his  dealings,  that  we  can  truly  "  rejoice 
in  the  Lord  at  all  times,"  and  "  count 
it  all  joy,"  when  we  are  passing  through 
the  various  trials  or  "  temptations  "  we 
experience  here  below. 

Edward  left  with  the  best  wishes  of 
many  true  friends,  and  their  unfeigned 
regrets.  He  returned  home  much  en- 
feebled, and  many  fears  were  entertained 
that  he  would  never  be  fully  restored  to 


92  THE   BOY    AND  THE   MAN. 


health;  and,  indeed,  he  could  not  expect 
to  be  strong  and  robust,  for  his  constitu- 
tion was  greatly  impaired. 

He  passed  some  weeks  very  pleasantly 
wifli  the  home  circle,  and  spent  a  part 
of  the  summer  in  travelling  through  the 
Green  Mountain  State,  and  the  north- 
eastern portion  of  New  York.  He  pos- 
sessed, in  a  remarkable  degree,  an  eye  and 
taste  for  whatever  was  beautiful  or  sub- 
lime in  nature  or  art.  His  soul  would 
seem  filled  with  delight  as  he  gazed  upon 
a  charming  landscape,  and  it  would  be  so 
indelibly  painted  upon  his  mind  that  it  waa 
ever  after  a  source  of  pleasure  to  himj 
and  the  true  and  rational  happiness  he 
experienced  from  a  ramble  over  the  hills 
and  vales  of  our  beautiful  New  Eng- 
land contributed  very  essentially  to  the 
promotion  of  physical  health.  He  looked 
upon  the  beauties  of  this  world  as  the  gift 


THE   BOY    AND  THE  MAN.  93 


of  our  kind  Creator,  and  regarded  it  as 
ingratitude  to  him  not  to  love,  admire, 
and  appreciate  these  tokens  of  his  power 
and  loving  care,  and  wherever  he  went 
he  endeavored  to  cultivate  this  refining 
and  elevating  taste,  both  in  himself  and 
others.  He  was  not  a  man  of  "  one  idea," 
and  never  sought  to  excel  in  one  particular 
merely,  but  he  labored  to  attain  a  high 
standard  in  mental,  moral,  social,  and  reli- 
gious excellence ;  and  he  was  ever  on  the 
watch  for  some  opportunity  to  gain  useful 
knowledge,  and  was  quite  as  ready  to  im« 
part  to  others  what  he  had  acquired.  He 
was  a  keen  observer  of  men  and  things, 
and  therefore  his  travels  were  not  in  vain. 
Life  to  him  was  not  simply  existence,  nor 
was  it  a  weary  toil,  but  a  noble,  God-given 
blessing.  To  quote  his  own  words,  u  Oh, 
forsaken  of  God  and  despised  by  man 
must  he  be  who  has  no  eye  for  beauty,  no 


94  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 

ear  for  music,  no  band  for  toil,  no  head 
for  thought,  and  no  heart  for  love." 

For  more  than  a  year  Edward  Cleave- 
land  passed  his  time  principally  in  the 
pursuit  of  health,  partly  at  home,  partly 
in  travelling  and  other  temporary  occu- 
pations. And  very  delightful  to  the  mem- 
ory of  some  of  his  friends  is  the  remem- 
brance of  those  weeks  and  months  when 
they  enjoyed  his  presence. 

Those  pleasant'social  readings,  the  rides 
and  walks,  the  quiet  talks  and  cheerful 
hours  of  those  days,  are  precious  treasures 
of  the  heart.  The  rest  and  change  were 
beneficial  to  his  health,  the  pain  in  his 
side  entirely  left  him,  and  he  once  more 
returned  to  his  loved  employment  of  teach- 
ing. 

He  was  called  to  take  charge  of  a 
grammar  school  in  one  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful villages  in  Massachusetts,  and  soon 


THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN.  95 

the  place  grew  to  be  a  prosperous  inland 
city. 

His  health  was  so  far  restored  that  he 
thought  best  to  accept  the  offer,  nor  did 
he  ever  regret  the  decision.  For  eight 
years  he  labored  in  the  same  school,  and 
there  hundreds  were  brought  under  his 
influence,  who  have  since  gone  forth  into 
the  wide  world,  many  of  them  bearing  in 
their  characters  the  impress  of  his  mould- 
ing hand.  He  did  not  feel  that  he  was 
laboring  merely  for  a  present  good,  or 
that  the  effect  was  to  cease  with  time  and 
the  life  of  the  pupil  here  below.  He 
looked  beyond  the  fleeting  hours,  and  the 
eventful  scenes  even  of  this  world,  and 
remembered  that  he  was  training  minds 
not  only  to  bear  the  responsibilities  of  the 
present  life,  but  also  for  immortality. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

*  HIS   OWN    IDEAS    OP   A   TEACHER'S   RESPONSI- 
BILITIES. 

We  can  best  understand   his  aim   and 
success  as  a  teacher  of  youth  by  glancing 

»at  some  of  his  own  written  opinions  on 
the  subject;  and,  hoping  the  influence  upon 
the  reader  may  be  one  of  practical  good, 
I  will  venture  to  quote  some  passages 
addressed  to  his  fellow-teachers.  It  will 
be  seen  that  he  regarded  the  parent  and 
teacher  as  coworkers  in  the  high  and 
holy  calling  of  training  the  youthful  mind, 
and  that  they  were  mutually  dependent 
upon  each  other  for  success. 

"  The  physical,  mental,  and  moral  growth 
and   development   of   a   child   should    be 


THE   BOY   AND    THE   MAN.  97 


watched  and  guarded  with  the  most  care- 
ful attention  by  every  parent  and  teacher. 
There  is  no  employment  on  earth  which 
carries  with  it  such  heavy  responsibilities, 
and  which  is  so  endless  in  its  consequences 
as  the  moulding  of  the  character  and 
tastes,  and,  in  a  great  measure,  control- 
ling the  happiness  and  destiny  of  an  im- 
mortal being.  This  work  has  been  com- 
mitted almost  wholly  to  the  parent  and 
the  teacher.  The  trust  is  most  assuredly 
theirs. 

u  Plans  for  breaking  up  bad  habits,  such  as 
idleness,  carelessness,  profanity,  and  lying, 
should  be  mutually  discussed,  and  when 
adopted,  should  be  carried  to.  a  successful 
result  by  the  earnest  and  hearty  cooperation 
of  both  parent  and  teacher.  The  first  thing 
to  be  secured  is  the  habit  of  obedience, 
without  which  nothing  can  be  accomplished. 
This  is  of  vital  importance,  and  no  child 
9 


98  THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN. 

can  be  well  educated  without  it.  It  is  tho 
corner-stone  in  the  character  of  an  intelli- 
gent, moral,  and  noble-minded  man.  Diso- 
bedience has  filled  our  reform  schools,  our 
prisons,  and  our  penitentiaries,  and  has 
brought  and  is  bringing  incalculable  misery 
upon  the  human  family. 

"  Mobs  are  headed,  riots  instigated,  laws 
trampled  upon,  and  governments  over- 
thrown, by  those,  and  those  only,  who 
were  accustomed  to  disobey  their  parents 
and  teachers.  Ilere  should  be  the  most 
perfect  unanimity  of  feeling  and  action. 
If  the  rules  and  regulations  of  a  school 
are  just,  obedience  should  be  uncom- 
promisingly maintained,  by  both  parent 
and  teacher.  A  misunderstanding  on  this 
point  may  prove  fatal  to  progrc3S,  and 
forever  ruin  the  child. 

"  The  health  of  the  young  should  be  an 
object    of    special    attention.      'A    souud 


THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN.  99 


mind  in  a  sound  body,'  is  a  maxim  full 
of  meaning.  Habits  which  debilitate  the 
body  and  impair  its  vigor  should  be  broken 
up,  a  stooping  posture  changed  to  an  erect 
one,  awkwardness  of  manner  to  case  and 
grace,  roughness  and  vulgarity  to  gentle- 
ness and  purity.  The  mental  powers 
should  be  harmoniously  developed  and 
judiciously  directed.  Thoroughness  of  in- 
struction is  also  a  matter  of  great  im- 
portance. Many,  it  is  to  be  feared,  are 
too  superficial  in  their  instruction ;  forcing 
the  child  through  a  great  number  of  pages, 
without  his  deriving  any  available  knowl- 
edge, or  permanent  power. 

"  The  habits,  passions,  and  morals  of 
the  young  should  be  watched  and  guided 
with  ceaseless  vigilance.  Habits  may  be 
formed  which  shall  make  the  individual 
a  disagreeable,  disorderly,  and  unendurable 
member  of  society,  or  a  pleasant,  amiable, 


100  THE   BOT    AND   THE   MAX. 


and  ever-welcome  visitant  at  every  fireside. 
Passions,  which,  if  left  uncontrolled,  may 
prompt  the  blasphemous  oath,  and  delight 
in  scenes  of  wickedness  and  cruelty,  may, 
if  rightly  directed,  make  heroes  as  brave 
as  Washington,  philanthropists  as  perse- 
vering as  Howard,  or  preachers  as  earnest 
and  powerful  as  Baxter  and  Whitcfield. 

"  The  morals  of  a  child  may  become  so 
depraved  that  virtue  cannot  breathe  in  its 
presence,  and  goodness  shall  shrink  back 
at  its  approach  as  from  a  leper's  touch, 
and  its  effect  upon  society  may  be  more 
dreaded  than  the  breath  of  a  pestilence; 
or  its  principles  may  be  so  correct,  and 
its  life  so  pure,  as  to  exert  an  elevating 
and  ennobling  influence  over  all  with  whom 
it  comes  in  contact. 

"  Thus  we  see  that  the  most  weighty 
responsibilities  rest  upon  parents  and 
teachers,   and    to    train    the   young  aright 


THE   BOY    AND    THE    MAN.  101 

demands  unwearied  diligence,  an  enlight- 
ened view  of  what  true  education  is,  and 
a  conscientious  discharge  of  every  duty. 
What  is  time  for,  unless  it  is  given  us  to 
prepare  ourselves,  and  those  over  whom 
we  have  an  influence,  for  usefulness  here 
and  lasting  happiness  hereafter  ?  Shall 
the  decaying  body  receive  the  most  careful 
attention,  and  the  imperishable  mind  no 
watchful  care  and  assiduous  culture  ?  Far 
better  would  it  be  for  a  man  to  leave  a 
hovel,  with  intelligence  and  virtue,  as  an 
inheritance  to  his  children,  than  the  riches 
of  Astor,  with  ignorance  and  depravity. 

"  When  parents  and  teachers  shall  look 
upon  the  subject  of  education  in  its  true 
light,  faithfully  discharge  every  duty,  and 
conscientiously  fulfil  every  obligation  to 
the  young,  a  new  era  will  be  ushered  in. 
Then,  indeed,  we  may  hope  with  assurance 
'  that  our  sons  may  be  as  plants  grown  up 
9* 


102  THE   BOY    AND    THE    MAN. 


in  their  youth ;  and  our  daughters  may  be 
as  corner-stones,  polished  after  the  simili- 
tude of  a  palace.' " 

And  again,  he  says,  "  Let  the  teacher 
forget  that  he  is  engaged  in  a  vexing, 
thankless,  and  life-exhausting  profession, 
and  laboring  for  an  unrcquiting  remunera- 
tion ;  but  let  him  remember  that  deathless 
minds  are  given  him  to  cultivate,  and  with 
a  resistless  energy,  an  ardent  zeal,  and  an 
all-absorbing  love,  let  him  devote  himself 
to  doing  good  to  his  pupils.  Let  his  soul 
burn  within  him  as  he  meets  their  smiling 
and  intelligent  countenances,  and  witnesses 
the  daily  development  of  their  growing 
minds.  Let  his  eye  brighten  as  he  reads 
their  destiny  in  the  future.  One  may  yet 
guide  the  helm  of  state  like  Washington, 
or,  like  him,  lead  the  armies  of  his  country 
to  battle.  One,  like  Franklin,  may  yet 
represent  the  wisdom   of  his   country  at 


THE    BOY    AND    THE   MAN.  103 


foreign  courts.  One  may  preside  on  the 
CO£cb,  like  Marshall ;  or  lead  iu  the  coun- 
cils of  state,  like  Webster:  or  sway  the 
Tiind^  »>£  the  masses,  like  Cay;  or  deliver 
n  message  from  the  Most  High,  like  White 
^eld.  Or  there  may  be  some  who  '  shall 
tread  the  fiimament  with  a  Newton's  step, 
or  strike  the  harp  of  song  with  a  Milton's 
hand.'  And,  higher  and  nobler  than  all, 
they  ars  candidates  for  the  society  of 
angJs  aiid  glorified  spirits  at  the  court 
of  the  Kmg  of  kings. 

"  Let  us  iorac.niber  that  there  is  a  pur- 
pose to  be  aeeompl'sbed  in  living,  and  that 
life  is  too  short,  it?  mcuputo  too  precious, 
and  the  consequences  which  hang  upon  it 
arc  too  momentous,  to  have  I*'.  spent  in 
idleness  and  inactivity.  We  have  minds 
to  be  cultivated,  and  hearts  to  be  nitrified. 
'It  is  not  all  of  life  to  live.'     Ev's^nco  is 


104  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 


not  life.     Breath  is  not  life,  —  the  life  of 
the  mind  and  soul. 

"  The  existence  of  the  grazing  ox,  of  the 
condemned  criminal,  or  the  ignorant  Hin- 
doo, or  the  degraded  Hottentot,  is  not  the 
life  we  covet.  It  is  not  the  joyous  and 
happy  existence  of  the  intellect.  It  is 
not  the  refined  and  elevated  enjoyment  of 
a  cultivated  mind.  It  is  not  the  hallowed 
bliss  of  a  noble,  pure,  and  Christian  heart. 

" *  We  live  in   deeds,  not  years ;  in  thoughts,  not 

breaths ; 
In  feelings,  not  in  figures  on  a  dial. 
We  should  count  time  by  heart-throbs,  when  they 

beat 
For  God,  for  man,  and  duty.     lie  most  lives 
Who  thinks  most,  feels  noblest,  acts  the  best ; 
And    he   whose    heart   beats    quickest  lives    the 

longest, — 
Lives  more  in  one  hour  than  in  years  do  some, 
Whose  blood  sleeps  as  it  slips  along  their  veins.'  * 


THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN.  105 

And  in  these  passages  may  be  read  the 
great  and  noble  principles  and  feelings 
which  ruled  the  conduct  and  life  of  Edward 
Cleavcland,  in  the  various  relations  he 
sustained,  as  teacher,  friend,  citizen,  and 
Christian ;  for  he  was  an  earnest  man,  and, 
in  the  noblest  sense,  enthusiastic. 

It  was  his  custom  to  spend  the  vacations 
in  travelling,  or  in  some  active  rural  em- 
ployment which  would  be  both  healthful 
and  pleasant;  for  he  had  learned  lessons 
of  wisdom  from  past  experience.  But 
whether  he  was  climbing  the  rugged  ascent 
of  Mount  Washington,  or  feasting  his  eyes 
upon  the  beautiful  scenery  around  the  base 
of  Catskill,  or  camping  out  in  the  forests 
about  Moosehead  Lake,  or  gazing  with 
rapture  upon  the  unspeakable  grandeur 
and  sublimity  of  Niagara,  listening  to  the 
melody  of  its  falling  waters,  he  did  not 
fail  to  remember  his  beloved  and  loving 


106  THE   BOY    AND   THE  MAN. 


charge.  But  he  always  treasured  in  his 
retentive  memory  the  brightest  scenes,  the 
fairest  sights,  and  most  instructive  inci- 
dents, to  relate  to  his  pupils  on  his  return. 
And  he  possessed  such  a  power  of  descrip- 
tion, and  such  vividness  of  expression,  that 
it  would  seem  to  his  eager  listeners  as  an 
almost  present  and  visible  reality.  They 
always  expected  a  rich  treat  whenever  he 
returned  to  them  from  any  such  excursion. 
One  of  his  pupils  once  said,  "  I  wi.-h 
Mr.  Clcaveland  could  travel  round  the 
globe,  and  then  come  back  and  describe 
it  to  us." 

He  was  exceedingly  fond  of  poetry,  and 
his  mind  was  a  rich  storehouse  of  beautiful 
extracts,  expressing  the  loftiest  thoughts 
of  the  choicest  writers  of  ancient  and 
modern  times.  And  he  inculcated  the 
habit  in  his  pupils  of  committing  to  mem- 
ory   such  passages    as   were   worth    pre- 


THE   BOY    AXD    THE   MAN.  107 


ierving,  and  then  they  might  be  ever- 
present  and  available  sources  of  pleasure 
and  profit  to  themselves  and  others.  And 
he  not  unfrcquently  read  to  them  selections 
from  some  of  the  most  gifted  authors,  to 
cultivate  and  improve  in  them  an  appre- 
ciative , taste  for  the  truly  beautiful  in 
prose  and  poetry.  And  sometimes,  too, 
he  would  grant  them  a  little  salutary 
relaxation  and  amusement  by  reading  some 
humorous  or  ludicrous  description  or  inci- 
dent, and  allowing  them  all  to  join  with 
him  in  a  genuine,  hearty  laugh,  together. 
They  regarded  it  as  a  special  favor  when 
he  would  comply  with  the  earnest  request, 
(<  Do  please  read  us  something  this  after- 
noon, Mr.  Clcavcland."  And  sparkling 
eye3  would  beam  upon  him  from  a  hundred 
deeply  interested  and  grateful  counte- 
nances as  he  read,  while  his  own  eye 
would  kindle,  and  his  whole  face  glow  in 


108  THE   BOY  AND   THE   MAN. 


full  sympathy  with  the  spirit  of  the  author 
he  was  reading. 

If  there  was  one  point  in  which  Mr. 
Cleaveland  excelled  above  all  others  as  a 
teacher,  it  was  in  his  discipline.  The  most 
perfect  order  and  obedience  were  always 
maintained,  and  rarely  can  a  school  be 
found  where  such  quiet  regularity  prevails. 
But  there  was  no  display  of  authority,  and 
no  severity  exercised.  If  punishment  was 
needful,  it  was  judiciously  and  thoroughly 
administered,  but  with  such  calmness  and 
force  of  reason  that  the  delinquent  would 
invariably  feel  and  acknowledge  the  justice 
of  the  discipline. 

His  pupils,  it  might  well-nigh  be  truth- 
fully said,  without  a  single  exception,  loved 
and  almost  adored  him.  It  is  true,  they 
feared  to  displease  him;  but  it  was  the 
fear  of  love,  and  no  slavish  feeling.  At 
recess,  or  out  of  school,  they  would  gather 


THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN.  109 


about  him  with  all  the  familiarity  of  a 
child  with  a  loving  father:  and  well  he 
knew  how  to  amuse  and  interest  them; 
often  proposing  some  question  or  quoting 
some  maxim  that  would  long  be  treasured 
for  good.  But  the  instant  the  pointer  of 
the  clock  indicated  the  hour  for  study, 
they  would  quietly  and  almost  noiselessly 
resume  their  seats. 

Mr.  Cleavcland  also  excelled  in  illustra- 
tions of  any  truth  or  principle,  and  conse- 
quently the  recitations  in  his  school  were 
attractive  and  pleasant,  as  well  as  thor- 
oughly practical,  and  clearly  understood 
by  the  scholar. 

But  it  was  not  in  the  public  school  alone 
that  Mr.  Cleaveland's  influence  was  felt 
and  appreciated.  From  the  first,  he  was, 
in  some  capacity,  connected  with  the  Sab- 
bath school,  in  the  church  to  which  he 
removed  his  relation  in  the  city  where  he 


110  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 


resided.  He  was,  for  a  little  time,  a  pupil 
in  a  class  of  young  men,  for  I  have  said 
before  that  he  always  loved  the  Sabbath 
school. 

lie  was  soon  invited  to  take  charge  of  a 
class  of  young  ladies,  and  he  complied 
with  the  request.  And  here,  as  in  the 
day  school,  he  was  beloved  and  respected, 
and  his  memory  is  still  very  dear  and 
pleasant  to  the  members  of  that  class. 

We  have  seen  that  in  his  boyhood  he 
became  familiar  with  the  pages  of  Iloly 
Writ,  and  years  increased  his  knowledge 
of  the  Scriptures,  and  grace  gave  him  a 
true  heart-appreciation  of  the  truths  there- 
in revealed,  while  his  refined  taste  de- 
lighted in  the  unsurpassed  beauty  and 
sublimity  of  those  inspired  pages. 

lie  was  afterwards  chosen  to  fill  the 
office  of  superintendent  in  the  school, 
which    position    he    occupied   for    several 


THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN.  Ill 


years,  until  he  found  the  tax  upon  his 
physical  strength  too  great  an  addition 
to  the  duties  of  the  week  to  justify  its 
jontinuance.  This  relation  was  a  pleasant 
)nc  to  both  superintendent  and  the  school, 
for  he  possessed  the  respect  and  confi- 
iencc  of  the  older  members,  and  the 
iffectionate  regard  of  the  children.  He 
was  always,  and  in  every  place,  a  great 
favorite  with  the  little  folks;  for  he  knew 
them  all,  and  never  met  thein  without  a 
pleasant  word,  or,  at  least,  a  kindly  smile 
of  recognition. 

Mr.  Cleavcland  interested  himself  and 
others  particularly  in  the  exercises  of  the 
Sabbath-school  concert,  until  it  became 
the  most  delightful  and  fully  attended 
evening  meeting  of  the  church.  Old  and 
young  seemed  equally  interested  in  the 
return  of  this  anticipated  monthly  meet- 
ing.     The    children    claimed    it    as   thci 


112  TITE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN. 


meeting,  in  a  peculiar  sense,  and  the  older 
members,  not  only  of  the  Sabbath  school, 
but  of  the  whole  congregation,  looked 
upon  the  "children's  meeting"  as  best 
of  all. 

While  Mr.  Cleaveland  was  superinten- 
dent of  the  school,  which  was  for  several 
years,  he  felt  that  much  of  the  responsi- 
bility of  this  meeting  rested  upon  him. 
It  is  true  there  were  other  able,  willing, 
and  efficient  helpers,  but  he  was  expected 
to  take  a  leading  part  in  the  exercises. 
He  never  went  without  previous  thought 
and  preparation,  and  always  endeavored 
to  bring  with  him  some  new  and  instructive 
story  to  relate  to  the  children,  and,  with 
a  few  well-chosen  words,  seek  to  enforce 
the  moral  which  the  story  was  calculated 
to  inculcate  j  and  he  was  ever  listened  to 

r 
with  eager  attention. 

Although  years  have  passed  away  since 


THE    BOY   AND    THE   MAN.  113 


bis  voice  was  hushed  by  the  angel  of  death, 
there  arc  now  members  of  that  church  who 
never  enter  one  of  those  meetings,  and 
mingle  in  the  pleasant  exercises,  without 
remembering  the  tall,  slender  form,  the 
pale,  expressive  countenance,  the  large, 
11  thought-speaking "  eye,  and  clear,  deep 
voice,  and  impressive  manner  of  the  former 
beloved  superintendent.  And  thus,  though 
dead,  he  yet  speaks  to  them  in  words  of 
earnest  and  heartfelt  instruction,  urging 
them  onward  in  life's  great  work. 

And  he  was  also  a  regular  attendant  of 
the  other  weekly  meetings  of  the  church, 
for  social  conference  and  prayer.  Often 
has  his  voice  been  heard  in  that  conse- 
crated chapel,  in  words  of  supplication 
and  fervent  thanksgiving,  as  well  as  earn- 
est exhortation,  and  mingling  in  the  songs 
of  praise. 

He  was  ever  a  welcome  guest  at  the 
10* 


114  THE    BOY    AND    THE    MAN. 


fireside  or  in  the  social  circle,  and  lie 
possessed  a  rare  power  of  entertaining 
all,  both  old  and  young.  And  so  bright 
and  cheerful  was  he  that  sadness  would 
flee  away  in  his  presence,  though  his  heart 
was  ever  full  of  tender  sympathy  for  the 
sorrowing.  But  he  was  in  an  eminent 
degree  hopeful,  both  for  himself  and 
others,  and  looked  more  upon  the  bright 
than  the  dark  side  of  life.  lie  seemed  to 
carry  sunlight  in  his  heart,  and  shed  a  glad 
ray  of  it  wherever  he  went. 

This  cheerfulness  was  not  so  much  the 
effect  of  his  natural  disposition  as  the 
result  of  an  active  Christian  principle, 
and  confiding  trust  in  the  kindness  and 
wisdom  of  his  heavenly  Father.  lie 
looked  upon  what  arc  often  termed  the 
trifling  events  of  life  as  no  less  under 
the  guidance  of  Providence  than  great 
events. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

HIS   MARRIAGE,    AND    OTHER   INCIDENTS. 

I  have  already  spoken  of  the  reason 
why  Mr.  Cleavetand  remained  single  so 
long;  and  still  those  same  dear  friends 
were,  in  a  great  measure,  dependent  upon 
him  for  pecuniary  assistance.  And  cheer- 
fully and  heartily  was  it  always  given,  and 
the  "  Lord  loveth  the  cheerful  giver."  Al- 
though his  brother  had  a  willing  heart, 
he  was  so  situated  that  he  could  do  no 
more  than  care  for  the  wants  of  his  own 
family. 

And  there  is  one  thing  worthy  of  men- 
tion with  reference  to  his  care  and  faithful 
kindness  for  his  mother  and  sister.   During 


116  THE   BOY   AND    THE  MAN. 


the  many  years  in  which  he  supplied  their 
wants,  they  were  rarely  ever  obliged  to 
call  upon  him  for  what  they  needed.  Their 
wants  were  almost  invariably  anticipated 
by  him,  and,  when  their  present  need  was 
supplied,  he  always  added,  "  If  you  need 
anything  more  let  me  know,  and  it  will 
give  me  pleasure  to  furnish  it."  This  may 
appear  a  thing  of  no  consequence,  but  it 
contributed  not  a  little  to  the  happiness 
of  that  dear  mother  and  sister,  and  is 
recorded  for  imitation  by  others. 

But  at  length  he  felt  that  the  Lord  had 
prospered  him  in  such  measure  that  he 
might  add  another  to  the  family  circle, 
without  curtailing  his  kind  offices  to"  its 
present  members.  With  continued  health 
jtnd  prosperity  he  might  now  look  forward 
to  a  home  of  his  own,  "  with  a  loving 
heart  to  cheer  him." 

He    was  well  fitted  to   enjoy  domestic 


THE    BOY   AND   THE   MAN.  117 


life,  and  also  to  make  home  a  happy  place 
to  others,  and  he  would  appreciate  home 
comforts  none  the  less  for  the  years  of 
boarding  he  had  experienced,  although  he 
was  richly  favored  in  finding  pleasant 
homes  as  a  boarder,  for  he  was  always 
recognized  as  a  member  of  the  family  and 
a  valued  friend. 

But  this  did  not  satisfy  the  longings  of 
his  warm  and  loving  heart,  for  there  was 
a  void  which  common  friends,  or  tenderly 
attached  friends,  could  never  fill.  He 
wanted  one  to  love  and  call  his  own.  And 
God  blessed  him  in  the  wish,  and  gave  him 
a  fair  and  lovely  bride,  with  a  faithful, 
loving,  trusting  heart,  in  whom  he  might 
safely  repose  all  the  wealth  of  his  strong, 
deep,  constant,  and  overflowing  affections. 
And  it  was  no  common  heart  he  offered 
her ;  but  a  manly,  noble,  and  truly  sincere 
and  affectionate  soul.     And  she  was  will- 


118  THE   liOY    AND   THE    MAN. 


ing  to  share  and  encourage  his  kindly 
attentions  to  those  he  loved. 

When  he  brought  her  to  his  temporary 
home  his  heart  seemed  full  of  grateful 
joy,  and  he  often  expressed  the  hope  that 
they  might  live  many  years,  and  "  grow  old 
together." 

Swiftly  and  happily  the  months  glided 
away,  and  he  seemed  fully  to  realize  his 
bright  hopes  and  visions  of  bliss.  He  was 
not  ambitious  to  make  a  display,  or  to 
"live  in  style,"  as  it  is  so  often  termed, 
but  was  willing  to  conform  to  his  circum- 
stances, fully  believing  that  those  friends 
who  were  worthy  to  bear  that  sacred 
name  would  love  and  respect  him  none  the 
less  for  consistently  pursuing  the  course 
he  thought  best.  It  is  true  that  wealth 
and  station  have  far  too  great  an  influence 
in  forming  the  opinions  of  society,  in 
individual   cases,   and,   perhaps,   with   the 


THE   BOY   AND   THE    MAN.  119 


masses;  but  true  worth,  and  purity  of 
character,  with  a  cultivated  intellect,  will 
generally  be  eventually  respected  and  ap- 
preciated for  its  own  sake,  by  the  better 
portion  of  any  community.  And  most 
certainly  is  this  true  in  the  city  where  Mr. 
Cleaveland  resided. 

Quietly,  but  very  pleasantly  the  year 
passed  away,  with  no  event  of  unusual 
interest  to  our  friend.  It  was  doubtless 
to  him  the  happiest  year  of  his  life,  and 
this  is  saying  much,  in  his  case,  for  in 
other  years  he  had  enjoyed  more  real 
happiness  than  most  of  the  human  family. 
It  was  a  favorite  saying  with  him,  that  he 
believed  he  "had  lived  longer  than  Me- 
thusaleh  did  in  his  nine  hundred  and  sixty- 
nine  years,  counting  its  length  by  what 
really  constituted  true  life  on  earth." 
And  not  less  happy  was  the  young  wife 
he  had  chosen,  for  her  fondest  hopes  were 


120  THE   BOY   AND  THE   MAN. 


realized  in  the  tender,  thoughtful,  consid- 
erate kindness  of  her  husband.  Precious, 
very  precious  to  her  now  lonely  and  deso- 
late heart  is  the  memory  of  those  glad 
days,  so  full  of  deep  and  quiet  joy. 

Just  at  the  close  of  the  second  winter 
of  their  union  God  gave  them  a  fair  and 
beautiful  rosebud  to  cherish  and  nurture 
with  loving  care.  A  lovely  little  daughter 
nestled  closely  to  that  young  mother's 
heart,  and  a  new  fountain  of  love  was 
opened  in  that  father's  soul.  Their  cup 
of  joy  seemed  filled  to  the  brim,  and  they 
gave  God  thanks. 

They  received  the  treasure  as  a  gift 
from  God,  bringing  with  it  new  responsi- 
bilities, and  new  joys.  It  was  an  im- 
mortal being,  and  must  be  trained  for  the 
glory  of  the  Creator. 

And  each  morning  and  evening,  as  the 
father  knelt  at  the  family  altar,  his  hear* 


The  Boy  and  the  Man.        Page  120. 


THE    BOY    AND    THE   MAN.  121 


gave  utterance  to  words  of  fervent  prayer 
for  the  richest  of  Heaven's  blessings  to 
rest  on  the  little  one  committed  to  their 
care;  that  she  might  grow  up  to  be  a 
useful  member  of  Christ's  church  below, 
and  finally,  through  the  washing  of  regen- 
eration in  the  blood  of  a  crucified  Saviour, 
be  permitted  to  dwell  in  the  presence  of 
God,  angels,  and  glorified  spirits  for- 
ever. 

Could  he  have  foreseen  the  sudden  and 
dreadful  blow  which  was  soon  to  smite 
that  beloved  band,  he  would  scarcely  have 
been  more  earnest  in  his  petitions  at  the 
throne  of  grace,  or  more  tender  and 
urgent  in  his  words  of  counsel  to  the 
wife  he  loved  so  devotedly,  to  train  the 
little  one  aright,  and  especially  entreat- 
ing her  to  secure  the  obedience  of  the 
child. 

May  we  not  believe  that  our  loving 
11 


122  THE   BOY    AND   THE   MAN. 

heavenly  Father,  all  unseen  and  unfelt  at 
the  time,  prepares  the  way,  in  a  measure, 
for  the  events  which  he  sees  we  are  soon 
to  meet? 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE   CLOSING   SCENE. 

We  must  now  turn  from  the  brighter 
scenes  and  joyous  hopes  of  past  pages, 
and  look  at  the  darkness  and  sad  desola- 
tion which  so  suddenly  came  upon  the 
family  and  friends  of  Edward  Cleaveland. 
The  night  of  sorrow  closed  over  them 
with  little  warning,  though  to  him,  we 
firmly  believe,  it  was  but  the  glorious 
dawning  of  an  endless  day. 

There  were  some  who  had  watched  the 
thin,  pale  face  of  Mr.  Cleaveland  through 
the  winter  with  solicitude,  for  they  feared 
he  was  taxing  his  strength  too  much.  But 
he  was  so  happy  and  hopeful,  so  active, 


124  THE   BOY    AND   THE   MAN. 


and  so  fully  confident  that  he  was  not 
only  quite  as  well,  but  even  much  better 
than  usual,  that  his  home  friends  were 
satisfied. 

A  week  before  the  close  of  his  winter 
term  in  school,  and  when  his  infant  daugh- 
ter was  but  three  weeks  old,  he  was 
attacked  with  a  severe  cold.  For  the 
first  few  days  little  apprehension  was  felt, 
although  he  had  some  fever,  and  he  seemed 
more  prostrated  than  he  usually  did  from 
attacks  of  illness.  Still,  it  was  thought 
to  be  partly  exhaustion  from  the  labors  of 
a  long  term,  rather  than  the  effect  of  dis- 
ease. Medical  advice  was  promptly  called, 
and  his  physician  attended  him  with  all 
the  faithfulness  and  care  of  a  friend  and 
brother.  Although  the  affectionate  wife 
was  unable  to  minister  to  his  wants,  other 
careful  hands  and  loving  hearts  nursed  him 
most  tenderly.     He  seemed  from  the  first 


THE    BOY    AND    THE    MAN.  125 


unlike  his  former  self,  for  his  elasticity 
and  buoyancy  of  spirit,  which  ever  char- 
acterized him,  even  in  sickness,  was  gone, 
though  he  fondly  expected  to  be  with  his 
dear  pupils  again  before  the  close  of  the 
week. 

On  the  sixth  day  of  his  illness,  when 
the  physician  and  friends  indulged  the  hope 
that  he  was  better,  the  disease  suddenly 
and  unexpectedly  became  seated  upon  his 
lungs,  where  the  seeds  of  destruction  had 
long  been  working,  silently,  and  all  un- 
known to  himself  and  friends,  save  his 
physician. 

He  was  from  that  hour  delirious,  and 
never  for  one  moment  realized  his  situa- 
tion in  the  least.  He  recognized  his 
friends,  and  manifested  a  thoughtful  care 
for  their  health  and  comfort,  but  was 
wholly  unconscious  of  the  anxiety  and 
sorrow  which  filled  their  almost  bursting 
11* 


126  THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN. 


hearts,  but  which  they  strove  to  conceal 
from  him. 

Could  he  have  known  and  realized  the 
numberless  expressions  of  love  and  sym- 
pathy given  by  a  multitude  of  anxious 
friends,  his  warm  heart  would  have  melted 
with  tender  gratitude,  and  he  could  not 
have  desired  a  dearer  place  in  the  hearts  of 
any  people  than  he  held  in  the  community 
where  he  lived  and  labored  for  so  many 
years.  If  he  did  not  understand  these 
proofs  of  love,  they  were  not  unnoticed 
by  Him  who  has  said,  "  Inasmuch  as  ye 
have  done  it  unto  the  least  of  these, 
ye  have  done  it  unto  me."  And  if 
the  daily  prayers  of  that  afflicted  circle 
avail  anything  before  the  Throne,  then, 
indeed,  will  the  friends  of  those  dark  and 
bitter  hours  be  richly  blessed  of  heaven's 
great  King. 

And    many   were    the   fervent    prayers 


THE    BOY    AND    THE    MAN.  127 


which  went  up  from  scores  of  hearts,  that 
the  great  Physician  would  graciously  re- 
store to  health  and  active  duties  this 
beloved  man  j  for  they  felt  that  "  he  could 
not  be  spared." 

All  that  tender  love  and  medical  skill 
could  do  for  him  was  faithfully  done,  and 
then,  in  faith,  they  sought  to  leave  the 
result  with  a  faithful,  covenant-keeping 
God,  asking  for  submission  to  his  righteous 
will,  whatever  it  might  be. 

¥  My  thoughts  are  not  your  thoughts, 
neither  are  your  ways  my  ways,  saith  the 
Lord.  For  as  the  heavens  are  higher 
than  the  earth,  so  are  my  ways  higher 
than  your  ways,  and  my  thoughts  than 
your  thoughts."  The  Most  High  had  need 
of  this  servant  in  an  upper  sphere,  and 
he  saw,  too,  that  it  was  needful  to  try  the 
hearts  of  this  household  band,  and  many 
friends,  and  test  their  love  and  confidence 


128  THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 


in  him,  by  taking  from  them  "  the  strong 
stay  and  beautiful  staff"  on  whom  they 
had  so  lovingly  and  confidingly  leaned. 
It  was  not  in  anger,  but  in  tender  love 
that  he  sent  this  arrow  from  his  quiver. 
It  is  in  mercy  that 

"  He  comes  and  takes  the  heart,  and  lays  it 
On  his  hard  anvil,  minded  so 
Into  his  own  fair  shape  to  beat  it, 

With  his  great  hammer,  blow  on  blow." 

And  rapidly,  very  rapidly,  his  system 
yielded  to  the  power  of  disease.  The 
ninth  day  of  his  illness,  being  the  third 
after  his  more  critical  attack,  was  the 
holy  Sabbath,  and  it  was  a  Sabbath  never 
to  be  forgotten  by  that  circle  of  weeping 
friends,  for  it  was  the  last  day  that  the 
eyes  of  their  loved  one  opened  on  earth. 
Through  the  long  hours  of  that  day  hope 
and   fear  kept   them   in  fearful  suspense. 


THE   BOY   AND   THE   MAN.  129 


He  was  constantly  delirious,  and  had  no 
suspicion  of  the  change  before  him.  No 
parting  words  were  left,  as  precious  lega- 
cies of  a  dying  hour,  but  in  youth  and 
health  he  had  made  his  peace  with  God, 
and  committed  his  soul  to  his  Saviour's 
care  and  keeping.  His  work  on  earth  was 
ended. 

At  evening  he  seemed  to  fall  asleep, 
but  it  was  the  sleep  of  death.  For  two 
hours  he  lay  all  unconscious  of  those 
about  him,  and  then  his  spirit  soared 
away  to  be  forever  with  the  Lord.  He 
had  no  share  in  the  bitterness  and  anguish 
of  parting,  but  was  kindly  spared  it  all. 
It  would  have  been  very  hard  for  him  thus 
to  leave  his  beloved  and  helpless  family, 
though  we  fully  believe  grace  would  have 
been  granted,  that  would  enable  him  to 
say  heartily,  "Thy  will,  O  God,  be  done." 

In   life,  he   delighted  in    pleasant   sur« 


THE  BOY   AND   THE   MAN. 


priscSj  and  was  it  not  a  glad  surprise  that 
broke  upon  his  raptured  soul,  as  he  beheld 
the  glory  of  tho  celestial  city,  and  entered 
its  pearly  gates  ? 

"Why  should  we  grieve  that  to  him  'tis  given 
To  tune  his  lyre  in  the  courts  of  heaven  ? " 

But  those  loving  hearts  were  rent  with 
anguish.  The  blow,  so  sudden  and  so 
heavy,  had  well-nigh  crushed  them.  They 
could  not  murmur,  for  they  knew  and  felt 
that  God  docth  all  things  well. 

It  was  "  well  "  that  the  young,  affection- 
ate wife  should  be  left  in  early  widow- 
hood, with  the  care  of  a  tender  infant, 
that  she  might  claim  the  promise,  "  Thy 
Maker  is  thy  husband,  the  Lord  of  Hosts 
is  his  name."  It  was  "  well "  that  the 
precious  daughter  of  only  one  short  month 
should  thus  early  be  left  with  no  father 


THE   BOY   AND   THE  MAN.  131 


to  guide  and  protect  her,  save  him  who 
has  said,  "  I  will  be  a  Father  unto  thee." 

It  was  "  well "  that  the  widowed  mother, 
in  her  declining  years,  then  at  a  distance 
from  the  sorrowing  circle,  should  receive 
the  sudden  intelligence  which  fell  upon 
her  almost  as  a  thunderbolt  from  a  clear 
sky,  that  the  darling  son  on  whom  she 
leaned  had  passed  away  from  earth,  that 
ehe  might  listed  to  the  words,  "  Call  upon 
me  in  the  day  of  trouble,  I  will  deliver 
thee,  and  thou  thalt  glorify  me."  And 
again,  "  I  will  nerer  leave  thee,  nor  for- 
sake tiee."  "Feai  not,  for  I  am  with 
thee."    ■  I  will  hold   thee." 

It  was  'well"  that  the  bereaved  brother, 
who  had  relied  on  the  dear  departed  one 
for  counsel,  should  obey  the  voice  which 
lays,  *  If  any  man  lack  wisdom,  let  him 
ask  of  GodJ  who  grTeth  to*  alt 'men  liber- 


132  THE  BOT   AND   THE  MAN. 

ally,  and  upbraideth  not,  and  it  shall  be 
given  him." 

It  was  "well"  that  the  stricken  sister, 
whose  very  life  seemed  bound  with  that 
of  this  brother-father,  should  learn  to  look 
to  the  "  Elder  Brother "  more  entirely, 
and  remember  "There  is  a  Friend  who 
sticketh  closer  than  a  brother." 

And  it  was  "  well  "  that  the  hundreds 
of  pupils  and  friends  should  "cease  from 
man,  whose  breath  is  in  his  nostrils,"  and 
heed  the  warning  which  loudly  said  to 
them,  "  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God."  All 
this  was  well,  for  the  Lord  had  done  it. 

And  now  let  us  turn  for  a  moment  to 
the  words  of  this  dear  friend,  which  he 
addressed  to  a  bereaved  friend,  for  it  may 
show  us  from  whence  he  derived  consola- 
tion in  sorrow,  and  may  apply  to  the 
stricken  oaWte  ijt^ckina  Acfy*  'iJ^M,  a 
j^gsed  thing,  when  all  other  sources  of 


THE   BOY    AND  THE   MAN.  133 

consolation  fail,  to  feci  we  have  a  Friend 
above,  who  is  ever  present,  and  ever  ready 
to  minister  to  us  in  the  day  of  affliction. 
Like  David,  we  should  '  trust  in  the  Lord 
at  all  times.'  If  our  friends,  whom  we  so 
dearly  love,  are  taken  from  us,  we  should 
be  thankful  that  they  have  been  spared  to 
us  so  long,  and  that  we  have  been  permit- 
ted to  enjoy  so  much  in  their  presence, 
and  to  be  so  happy  with  them  while  they 
lived. 

"  I  know  what  it  is  to  stand  by  the  sick 
bed  of  those  I  loved,  and  watch  for  the 
approach  of  the  destroying  angel. 

"  I  know  what  it  is  to  receive  the  dying 
blessing  of  a  fond  father,  and  to  have 
heart  stricken,  and  my  home  made  dc 
late,  and  the  worlcLlook  dark 
covered,  as  it  w 

foi  . ,    and 

''      12 


134  THE   BOY    AND   THE  MAN. 

afforded,  and  I  eould  rejoice  in  him  who 
doeth  all  thkgs  well. 

"Kind  friends  can  do  much  to  assuage 
our  grief,  and  it  is  very  pleasant  to  know 
that  others  sympathize  with  us.  But 
nothing  is  so  efficacious  as  prayer.  We 
can  pour  our  petitions  into  an  ear  that  is 
ever  open,  and  know,  if  we  pray  aright,  we 
shall  be  comforted. 

"  It  is  a  blessed  thing  that  we  are  per- 
mitted to  feel  that  Jesus  has  prepared 
mansions  for  us,  where  sickness  and  sor- 
row shall  never  enter,  and  where  we  shall 
never  be  called  to  part  with  those  we  love. 
It  is  a  blessed  thing  that  when  our  trials 
greater  than  we  can  bear,  we  can  feel 
everlasting  arm  underneath  us,  and 
J1v   voice    whispering  'peace* 


trust,  is 


THE   BOY    AND    THE   MAN.  135 

^Jehovah   let    the    sorrowing   ones 
find  rest. 

As  Mr.  Cleaveland  lay  shrouded  for  the 
tomb,  many  of  his  former  pupils  and 
friends  came  to  gaze,  through  fast-falling 
tears,  on  the  pale,  still  face  of  him  they 
loved  so  well,  and  who  so  lately  was 
among  them  in  life  and  health.  The  swol- 
len eyes,  the  suppressed  or  bursting  sob, 
and  the  sad,  downcast  expression,  told 
most  plainly  that  a  much-loved  friend  had 
left  them,  though  few  were  the  words  they 
uttered.  One  smart,  intelligent  Irish  lad, 
whom  he  had  encouraged,  said,  as  he 
looked  upon  him  for  the  last  time,  while 
lears  rolled  down  his  cheeks,  "He  was 
ny  friend,  and  never  can  a  man  be  found 
to  fill  his  place."  A  poor  colored  woman 
came  with  some  who  had  been  members 
of  his  school,  and,  in  the  fulness  of  her 
heart,  she  said,  "  He  was  a  good  man,  and 


136      THE  BOY  AND  THE  MAN 

always  treated  black  folks  just 
as  he  did  white  ones." 

The  rich  and  poor,  the  old  and  young, 
all  united  in  the  expression  of  affectionate 
and  sincere  respect. 

It  was  an  April  day  when  that  manly 
form  was  borne  to  its  final  home.  The 
morning  was  bright  and  pleasant,  but 
clouds  soon  gathered  in  the  sky,  and  the 
close  of  day  was  dark  and  rainy,  in  sad 
harmony  with  the  smitten  hearts  who 
could  see  for  themselves  no  light  on 
earth,  only  loneliness  and  sorrow. 

A  few  friends  gathered  with  the  pas- 
tor at  an  early  hour  in  the  house  of 
mourning,  and  there  the  dear  fatherless 
babe  was  consecrated  in  baptism,  and 
commended  to  the  tender  care  of  a  cove- 
nant-keeping God. 

It  wa3  a  touching  sight  to  see  that  fair 
bride  of  just  sixteen  months  before,  now 


THE   BOY   AND   THE  MAN.  137 

tfn  the  garb  of  widowhood,  thus  early 
bringing  her  firstborn  to  the  altar,  alone. 
And  we  believe  there  was  One  who  looked 
down  from  the  throne,  and  with  tender 
compassion  accepted  the  offering,  and  will 
ever  care  for  and  bless  this  precious  lamb. 
And  then  those  dear  remains  were  car- 
ried to  the  church,  and  placed  upon  the 
platform,  where,  in  months  and  years  that 
were  past,  he  had  so  often  stood  before 
the  Sabbath  school.     And  now 

"Fragrant  flowers  in  wreaths  lay  near  him, 
In  this  saddened  scene  of  death,"  — 

wreaths  that  were  woven  by  loving  hands 
for  a  teacher's  burial.  In  almost  hushed 
and  softened  strains  the  organ  poured 
sweet  melody,  and  the  choir  touchingly 
sung  that  beautiful  hymn, — 
12* 


138  THE  BOT   AND   THE  MAN. 

"Why  lament  the  Christian  dying? 
Why  indulge  in  tears  or  gloom? 
Calmly  on  the  Lord  relying, 
He  can  greet  the  opening  tomb. 

**  What  if  death,  with  icy  fingers, 
All  the  fount  of  life  congeals  ? 
Tis  not  there  thy  brother  lingers, 
'Tis  not  death  his  spirit  feels. 


•*  Though  for  him  thy  soul  is  mourning, 
Though  for  him  thy  heart  is  riven,— 
While  to  dust  his  flesh  is  turning, 
All  his  soul  is  filled  with  heaven. 

44  Scenes  seraphic,  high  and  glorious, 
Now  forbid  his  longer  stay; 
See  him  rise  o'er  death  victorious; 
Angels  beckon  him  away. 

"Hark!  the  golden  harps  are  ringing; 
Sounds . celestial  fill  his  ear; 
Millions  now  in  heaven  singing, 
Greet  his  joyful  entrance  there." 


THE  BOY   AND   THE  MAN.  139 

And  then  the  ninety-first  Psalm  was 
read,  which  had  long  been  a  precious 
favorite  with  the  deceased. 

Humble,  fervent,  and  appropriate  prayers 
were  offered,  and,  at  the  close  of  the  exer- 
cises, the  many  hundreds  who  had  gathered 
to  pay  this  tribute  of  affection  to  the  be- 
loved friend,  teacher,  citizen,  and  Christian 
brother,  gave  one  last  look  at  those  famil- 
iar features,  then  turned  away,  with  tearful 
eyes  and  sorrowing  hearts. 

In  the  afternoon,  a  faithful  band  of 
mourners  accompanied  his  precious  dust 
to  his  native  town,  and  then,  in  the  church 
where  he  first  professed  his  faith  in  Christ, 
the  last  sad  services  were  held,  and  there 
were  assembled  many  who  had  known  and 
loved  the  boy,  the  youth,  and  the  man. 

Then  all  that  was  mortal  of  Edward 
Cleaveland  was  carried  to  the  quiet  rest- 
ing-place of  his  fathers,  there  to   repose 


140  THE   BOY    AND   THE   MAN. 

till  the  last  great  day.  And  there  we  will 
leave  him,  for  God  will  guard  that  sacred 
dust. 

Is  there  no  influence  for  good  to  be 
derived  from  these  few  pages? — no  high 
resolve  for  upward  progres's  strengthened 
and  encouraged  to  active,  persevering  ef- 
fort? Is  there  no  wish  to  imitate  what 
was  noble  and  Godlike  ? 

If  a  single  good  seed  has  been  sown, 
cherish  and  nurture  it  carefully,  that  it 
may  bring  forth  fruit  a  hundred-fold. 

"  But  look  not  back  I     Oh,  triumph  in  the  'strength 
Of  an  exalted  purpose  !    Eagle-like 
Press  sunward  on.     Thou  shalt  not  be  alone. 
Have  but  an  eye  on  God,  as  surely  God 
"Will  have  an  eye  on  thee,  —  press  on!  press  on  !" 

The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  a  fountain  of 
life,  to  depart  from  the  snares  of  death. 


HSS8  ilBRARK 


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